It was a huge difference financially and emotionally. I turned around and took second place at the Open that year. I thought about quitting during that round. When I qualified for the US Open it took me 36 holes in one day and then four holes and a playoff to get the last spot in the Open. You never know how much that little extra step can take you farther in life. There were times where I thought about it, but you get that extra little push. My success on the golf course came from never giving up and having parents who pushed me to never give up whether it was physically or mentally. You got to believe that you are going to come out on top. Any adversity in life you have to push yourself and believe in yourself. That also goes to people who are waiting for a transplant or going through a transplant or whether they have other adversities like cancer. I have always pushed myself to become a stronger person and to want to be the best. I stand up for what is right and what is wrong. How has that changed your outlook on life since those two procedures?ĮC: (Laughs.) I do sweat the small stuff. I am guessing that you don’t sweat the small stuff. It is amazing that there are so many gracious people out there.ĪE: You are a two time heart transplant recipient. We also have inspirational people out there who are living donors that have donated a kidney to their loved ones. It is something that you should talk to with your family. That is why we try to put the word out there. Somebody else has to make the decision for you. If you lose your life you can’t make that decision. You can even speak to your loved ones if that is something that you are interested in doing. You can register to become an organ donor. You can go to or at my foundation or at the DMV. I talk about how to become an organ donor. There are over 125,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. We are doing our educational push to become an organ donor and the lack there of donors right now. I got to talk with Erik about fatherhood, the work he does in raising awareness for organ donors, and golf.Īrt Eddy: Before we talk golf and fatherhood I want to ask you about your foundation and the Play Through with Erik Compton campaign that you are teaming with Donate Life America and Genentech.Įrik Compton: This month is donate life month. 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. 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. 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. At one point Erik was the number one 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.
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