Eric Compton Just Three Strokes Off Lead at Honda Classic

Just five and a half months removed from his second heart transplant operation, Eric Compton captured the hearts of the golf world last November by making the cut at the Disney Children’s Miracle Network Classic.

A few weeks after making the cut at Disney, Compton then broke the hearts of golf fans when he missed advancing to the final stage of Q-School by a single stroke.

Although Compton is one of many players trying to make their way on the mini tours while holding out hope of one day earning a PGA Tour card, had it not been for his health issues, we might have known Compton’s name for winning PGA Tour events rather than for the unparalleled courageousness he exudes by just playing golf at all.  

At the age of nine, Compton was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood.  Three years later, in 1992, he received his first heart transplant. 

Several years later, Compton was the no. 1-ranked junior golfer in the country.  He attended the University of Georgia where he was an All-American and a member of the 2001 Walker Cup team.

Back in 2007, while playing a Nationwide Tour event, Compton suffered a major heart attack on the course.

In mid-2008, Compton underwent a 14-hour surgery to implant a second new heart.

Just five and a half months later, Compton attended the Disney Children’s Miracle Network Classic where, with the assistance of a PGA Tour-approved golf cart, he shocked the world by making the cut.

Now, the father of a one-month-old girl, Compton is back on the PGA Tour playing the Honda Classic on a sponsor’s exemption, and this time he is walking despite being permitted by the PGA Tour to use a cart.

The fact that Compton is even playing a PGA Tour event is a miracle in its own right, but Compton’s not there to provide everyone with a nice feel good story, he is there to play golf; and play golf he sure did on Thursday.

Compton started on the 10th hole and carded a triple bogey on the par-four 11th, making most believe that they would be deprived of their Eric Compton feel good story this week.

But Compton did not disappoint on the back nine where he recorded birdies on the first, second, and third holes. 

Compton’s round was suspended due to darkness, but after 16 holes, Compton sits just three strokes behind first-round leader Robert Allenby. 

Compton is well within the cut line and another stellar round tomorrow could see him enter the weekend in contention. 

Compton shocked us all by making the cut in his last PGA Tour event at Disney World, but who says that dreams only come true at Disney World?