HONOLULU (AP) — When Gary Woodland arrived at the Sony Open, his thoughts, like many others, turned to defending champion Grayson Murray. Murray had been open about his battles with anxiety and addiction, and tragically ended his own life four months after his victory.

Woodland is no stranger to anxiety and the importance of transparency.

In 2023, he spent nearly four months fearing for his life until doctors identified a lesion on his brain, which was causing irrational fears. They performed surgery, removing as much of the tumor as possible by cutting a hole the size of a baseball in his head. As the new year begins, he is steadily recovering.

Woodland joined numerous players, caddies, and tour officials along the eastern shores of Waikiki to honor Murray in a poignant ceremony on Tuesday morning. This event reminded him of a meaningful moment with Murray that highlighted the unseen influence players can have.

They had played together during the final round of the PGA Championship, just six days before Murray's passing. Woodland recalled a man in the crowd persistently trying to catch Murray's attention. Initially, they ignored him.

“Eventually, Grayson looked over, and the man broke down in tears, thanking Grayson for his openness about his struggles. The man had become sober and started playing golf because of Grayson’s story,” Woodland shared.

“Initially, I thought the man was angry at Grayson, as he kept shouting his name. We laughed it off, but when Grayson finally responded, it turned out to be a touching moment.”

This left a lasting impression on Woodland.

“Grayson was making a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “And that’s something I won’t forget.”