Erik Compton: The Real Winner

Bill Haas picked up his sixth career win on Sunday and his first since 2013, but was he the real winner this weekend? In golf and in sports the results are usually very black and white. There’s a winner and a loser. Only one player can end up at the top of the leaderboard after seventy-two holes. Except for Erik Compton, who is a winner every week he’s out there.

Heading into the final round of the Humana Challenge, Compton was in position to pick up his first PGA Tour victory. This isn’t just your average under the radar tour pro looking to make a name for himself and earn some tour stability for years to come. Compton is special. His life has been anything but easy. At nine he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and then went through his first heart transplant at just twelve years old. Later on in his twenties he needed a second one, and now at thirty-five years old Compton wants to start making news on the course.

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While the golf world knew all about Compton’s story, everyone else learned the details at last year’s U.S. Open. While Martin Kaymer was busy torching the field en route to a dominating victory, it was the emotional second place finish by Compton that gave us any reason to watch on Sunday. The guy who has done everything he could to beat every physical obstacle thrown in his way stole the show at Pinehurst. He was there front and center starring on one of the game’s grandest stages. Yes Kaymer gets to be introduced for the rest of his career as a U.S. Open champion, but it’s Compton who is the true definition of a champion and an American one to boot. He has stared adversity in the face, rose above it and gives us all a reason to believe that anything is possible.

While his performance at Pinehurst was uplifting for all of us, just imagine what it did for his golf game. All the talk surrounding him is no longer about heart transplants. Now it’s about his work on the course. This week in Palm Springs, Compton addressed the media about how things have changed for him after his runner-up finish at Pinehurst.

"“I think it’s just confidence. I’m probably just more at ease within myself, and not really feeling that I have to prove anything. Confidence is huge in this game. It’s very easy to play timid early on in your career. Now that I know how my game is and how it sets up it makes it easier to be aggressive as if you’re back home playing with your friends.” Credit PGATour.com"

When you think about anyone who has had any type of major medical procedure coming back from it may cause anyone to act a little timid. Just think about if you have major knee surgery and how nervous you may be about running again. Now times that by about a thousand and think of your heart. To comprehend that Compton can relax enough to compete at the game’s highest level is really impressive and his performance last June shows he can do more than just compete. He may even be able to win.

Now for Compton it’s all about golf, and after Saturday’s five under par 67 he met media to talk about the state of his game fifty-four holes into his first event of the year.

"He said: “I feel comfortable about my game and I think I’m more relaxed starting my season. I deliberately took Hawaii off so I’d feel more rested for the California swing.” Credit PGATour.com"

After fading to tenth place with a final round 70, Compton’s hard work this off-season still could be paying off. This looks to be a memorable year for him as he will make his first trip down Magnolia Lane and has already solidified his spot in the U.S. Open. For now it’s all about moving on from his double heart transplant survivor label. He wants to sit at the top of more leaderboards and beat the field in a tournament. Just like he’s beaten every other obstacle thrown his way. No matter what the story is surrounding Compton I can tell you one thing that will never change. We will always be rooting for him.

Next: Phil Mickelson Has Good Season Start At The Humana

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