Erik Compton is Simply Unbelievable

Erik Compton is playing on a sponsor's exemption this week at the Honda Classic.  The man is playing on his third heart after having undergone two separate heart transplants.  Last year, he missed the finals of Q-school by a single shot just five months after that second transplant. 

If that's not impressive enough, he accomplished that with garage-sale sticks that he purchased.  He had to buy them since he had given his clubs away last year in thinking that he might never play the game again because he was waiting for a transplant to save his life.

Things are looking up for Compton now, though.  He has an exemption into Arnie's event at Bay Hill.  He has an equipment deal with Titleist.  And, he's now a father for the first time.

Steve Elling profiled Compton's journey to this point and I only touched on some of the highlights of his story and the piece.  There's a lot of other press for Compton this week, as well.  No matter how many times I read his story, I find it unbelievable. 

To put it into perspective, the golf world was fawning over Tiger Woods' return from relatively common knee problems.  Compton, basically Roy McAvoy if he had two heart transplants, is out on the course and is playing well.  He was T7 early in round two.  Maybe it's the new equipment.  Regardless of why he's playing well, I love this story and I'm openly rooting for the guy to do great things this week.

By the way, our friends at Fuera de Limites have a post up about Erik as well! If you don't speak Spanish, you'll need Bablefish, but it's worth it.