Erik Compton's Journey Ends...for Now

Erik Compton missed the last stage of Q-school by a single shot.

Tim Rosaforte describes the situation:

[A]ll (Compton) needed was a safe, two-putt birdie from 22 feet, but there are no scoreboards at second stage; communication comes from word-of-mouth. With two tough closing holes, Compton thought he needed to make eagle. He was too aggressive with the eagle putt, and he missed the comebacker for birdie.

"I putted awful," he said. "My short game was atrocious."

Tied for 13th, two strokes inside the number, after 54 holes, Compton closed with a one-over 73. He posted a 72-hole score of 282. He needed 281. Now he returns to his job giving lessons at Mel Reese Park in Miami instead of heading to La Quinta, Calif. for the Q school final.

"This was just a dagger, even though it's a massive accomplishment," said Jim McLean, the teaching pro who has been spot-checking Compton out of his golf school at Doral since just after the first transplant.

Compton deserves a ton of credit for even making it this far.  He had a legitimate chance to make it to the last stage.  Who knows what could have happened there.  Still, to go from heart transplant to nearly a PGA Tour pro in this short of a period of time is staggering.