Tour still a viable job opportunity for Compton after remarkable day
Eric Compton had begun mulling his career options.
It was not list full of possibilities.
PGA Tour rules official Jon Brendle tried to offer some words of encouragement to a decidedly downcast Compton after the third round of a PGA Tour Qualifying School event Thursday, when Compton was feeling pretty much inconsolable.
With one round left in the first-stage of Q-school, Compton was seven strokes off the projected qualifying pace and hadn't posted a round better than 75 at Crandon Golf Course.
Compton turned with a shrug to Brendle, who was running the qualifier, and said, "Well, I guess I'll go back to giving lessons."
Brendle, who has seen some crazy things in his many years with the tour, wasn't just being an optimist when he laughed and said, "Hey, it's not over yet."
Extending one of the most amazing sports stories of the year, Compton shot the low round of the day Friday with a 4-under 68 and rallied to hit the qualifying total right on the number, finishing in a tie for 23rd at 8 over to advance to the second stage next month.
In a story that has attracted plenty of media attention already, Compton five months ago became one of the youngest recipients ever to receive a second heart transplant. Based on what happened Friday, it's pretty self-evident that his third heart, implanted May 10, can stand the stress and strain just fine.
Compton, 28, said he was watching the Golf Channel before his round and became a little annoyed at the tone of the comments, which were essentially lauding him for making a valiant effort that had fallen short. Being seven back with a round to go, that's what most folks were thinking, truth be told.
"I was sort of eating my cereal with a bad taste in my mouth," Compton said after the round. "I just said, 'Screw it, I'm not done yet.'"
On yet another blustery day on the tricky seaside course, Compton reached the green on the par-5 10th, his first hole of the day, in two shots and made an easy birdie. He was 3 under on his opening nine and made a clutch 15-footer for a par on his 16th hole to stay afloat.
He finished in a five-way tie for 23rd, the exact number required to advance to the second stage next month in Callaway Gardens, Ga.
After experiencing a massive heart attack last fall as his second heart was failing, Compton gave away most of his equipment and was playing with a set of second-hand, mix-and-match clubs that most single-digits golfers would have abandoned. Fighting a hook all week, he had the loft adjusted before the fourth round Friday, used a little more knee flex while over the ball, and hit it perfectly all day.
