Erik Compton is leading the first round of the PGA Tour event at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.
This is a true miracle because Erik has had two, that's right, two heart transplants. He is an awesome golfer and has been since we started working with him when he was 13 years old.
After his first heart transplant at 12 years old, Erik weighed 240 lbs. at 5'5 and was not in good shape. He was on heavy doses of steroids as part of his recovery and could only make half swings for about 1 year.
He worked hard and lost weight and got stronger. Miraculously, by age 17 he was the number one ranked junior golfer in America. He had 4 year scholarships to every college in the country and eventually chose Georgia, due mostly to Emory where he had access to a hospital that could see him regularly. He was still getting treatments each year and a 3 day stay at that hospital every year (he still does). He was the #2 ranked player in college golf, but left school early. Erik won all kinds of amateur events and made the Walker Cup Team. I went with Erik to Sea Island Georgia for the matches. The Walker Cup is the biggest honor you can receive in amateur golf. Erik was the star of that team. The last day he went off in the first match with America in need of a kick start. He played the #1 player from Europe. I worked hard with Erik the night before because his swing was suddenly off. I had him hit hard draw stingers for about 2 hours. On the first hole Erik 3 putted from 8 feet, then lost the next 2 holes and was 3 down after 3 holes. It looked very bleak and the large crowd following this group was ready to leave. Then Erik turned on his game. He birdied 8 of the next 12 holes to win his match 5 and 3. A hammering that propelled the Americans to a big win.
In 2007, Erik suffered a major heart attack. On his way to the hospital he called me to say goodbye, he thought he was dying for sure. He drove himself to Jackson Memorial Hospital and collapsed at the front door. They rushed him in and saved his life, but the heart was severely damaged. From then on Erik stayed mostly in the hospital and his heart weakened. I went to see him many times and you could see him slipping. He was on a list to get a new heart, but it all depends on many things and it looked bleak. I was in San Diego at a Padres game when Erik called me. He said a heart had been found. A young man had been killed in an auto accident not far away in Palm Beach, Florida. He was immediately going in for another heart transplant. Again, he said goodbye but we ended the conversation saying I would see him with that new heart in a few days.
Erik made it, but the doctors said pro golf was out of the question. When I visited Erik he was extremely weak. We talked seriously about other things he could do in life. Months passed and one day Erik showed up at my golf school at Doral. He said he had started playing golf. He was hitting his driver about 200 yards, but was having fun. I was amazed at his great attitude about playing. About 2 months later he played in a small event with local pros. He shot a 66 and won it. He was now driving the ball about 250 yards and so it went until he got an exemption to the PGA Tour event at Disney. Less than a year out of a heart transplant he made the cut.
This year, I really focused my attention on Erik qualifying for the US Open. Sure enough he did it, shooting 69, 66 and then winning a play-off to get in. Wow. The US Open after 2 heart transplants. The attention he received at Pebble Beach was incredible and of course well deserved. Even though he had done so many miraculous things before the US Open, many golfers just did not know about his condition. Qualifying for the Open was amazing. Now he shoots 63 and is leading a tour event. Another huge accomplishment.
I have worked with Erik for 17 years and know how good he is. I know the things he has to deal with concerning his health, and the disadvantages he has competing against the greatest players in the world. He has unbelievable talent along with perseverance and perfect mechanics.
Go Erik!
