In May 2024, Grayson Murray withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge, citing illness. The next day, tragedy struck. News came that Murray took his own life at 30. The loss shook the golf world. Suddenly, mental health wasn’t a quiet topic anymore. Brooks Koepka felt the pain, as he and Grayson had shared locker rooms and mutual respect. Now, as a part of the inaugural Grayson Murray Classic, Koepka is advocating mental health wellness, quietly.

The first-ever charity event was played at Raleigh Country Club in North Carolina. There was also a gala dinner that night at North Ridge Country Club, attended by PGA Tour golfers Chesson Hadley, Stephan Jaeger, Jason Kokrak, Martin Flores, Steve Wheatcroft, and Richy Werenski. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Grayson Murray Foundation, whose mission is to advance mental health and addiction care. Koepka’s action for mental well-being comes at a crucial time.

Just hours ago, his wife, Jena Sims, shared that she suffered a miscarriage, losing a baby boy, at 16 weeks.

” At 16 weeks, we learned that our baby’s heart had stopped beating. This is a grief no parent is ever prepared for. We are devastated, but remain hopeful to give Crew a sibling one day. Too often, these struggles happen in silence. There is still so much work and research needed to better understand and support women’s reproductive health. If you’re experiencing or have experienced pregnancy loss or infertility, please know you are not alone. 💔,” she wrote, posting a heartfelt carousel of pictures. “There is no timeline or rulebook for healing,” she wrote. “If I can make one woman feel less lonely, I’ve done my job.”

Koepka and other golfers have discussed how golf is taking a toll on one’s mental health.

Brooks Koepka’s Mental Health Journey

Brooks Koepka’s mental health struggles have been a significant part of his career.

In an interview, he admitted being unhappy for months after poor results. “From April to June, you didn’t want to be around me,” he said. “It ate at me.”

At the 2025 Irish Open, he addressed his exclusion from the Ryder Cup team, attributing it to poor performance and acknowledging the mental challenges he had faced during the season. He admitted that his performance had simply not met the standard, regardless of his reputation, and emphasized the mental toll of his struggles.

“Golf’s one of those games where you sit there and overthink it. When you play your best you’re not thinking about anything… When things aren’t going well you question everything.”

Koepka’s openness has contributed to a broader conversation about mental health in the professional golf world. Likewise, Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has spoken candidly about his battles with anxiety and ADHD.

In 2021, Watson revealed he had experienced severe anxiety attacks, including a period where he feared for his life. He stressed the importance of seeking help and being open about personal struggles, saying, “It’s OK to not be OK sometimes.”

Both Koepka and Watson demonstrate that even elite golfers face mental health challenges. Their willingness to speak out has encouraged other players to seek support and helped reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the sport.