He was stabilized, but it was only a matter of time before he would need a new heart. Then in October 2007, Compton suffered a near-fatal heart attack while fishing. Transplanted hearts last an average of 11 years, but his survived for 16. Heart disease caused Compton to have a heart transplant at age 12. 1 junior golfer who won on the Canadian and Hooters Tours and played on the Nationwide Tour.Ĭompton told the newspaper that he has also been granted a waiver to use a beta blocker, which is on the PGA Tour's list of banned substances, because he needs it as part of his medication protocol. 21-24 at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, Fla. "It takes a lot of stress off me, and it gives me a realistic chance."Ĭompton, 28, will play the first stage of qualifying from Oct. "I feel really good about the news," Compton said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported the story Tuesday on its Web site. Just four months after the second heart transplant of his life, the former Georgia All-American learned that officials have granted his request to use a cart during qualifying school to earn his tour card. So the PGA Tour is going to help him out. Whether mentoring transplant recipients at home in Miami, or hosting youth clinics for local transplant patients at a PGA Tour event, Erik gives back the support and encouragement he received as a patient.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĬompton allowed to use cart in Q-school after heart transplantĮrik Compton has the heart. Using his PGA Tour travel schedule, Erik spreads awareness of the need for organ donation and visits patients in the hospital. The Erik Compton Foundation is a not for profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and advocacy of organ donation by supporting medical based research, increasing donor education and the development of youth support programs. Off the course Compton gives his time to share his story with the transplant community through how foundation. In 2013 Erik was honored with the PGA TOUR Courage Award which is given annually to a "Player who, through courage and perseverance, has overcome extraordinary adversity." Since joining the PGA TOUR in 2012 Erik has played 142 events making 83 cuts which include 15 top 25 finishes, and five top 10 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the 2014 US Open. With three top-5 finishes including a win in the Mexican Open, Erik had assured himself a spot on the PGA Tour for the 2012 season. The 2011 Web.Com Tour season lead Erik to earning his PGA TOUR card for the first time. In 2010, after his second heart transplant, Erik continued his pursuit of golf making the cut in five of seven PGA TOUR events. Winning twice in 2004 earned Compton the Order of Merit title, and in 2005 he continued his success by winning the Hassan II Golf Trophy of Morocco. Turning professional in 2001, Erik played on the Web.com and Canadian Tours in 2002, 2004-2007. In 2013 Erik was among many distinguished recipients of the Donate Life Champion award an award given to role models in the sports community who have made a difference by inspiring others through their support for organ donation. In 2012 Erik received the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award from the U.S. For this, Compton was honored with the Ben Hogan Award in Augusta, Georgia during the 2009 Masters tournament. His first heart transplant came in 1992, at the age of 12 and his second in 2008. He accepted a scholarship to play golf for the University of Georgia, where he went on to become a two time All-American playing on the 2001 Palmer Cup and Walker Cup teams.Įrik is best known throughout the golf world for his two heart transplants. Six years later Erik was the number 1 junior golfer in the United States and the 1998 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year. Erik Compton was born in Miami Florida where he learned the game of golf at the age of 12.
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