Professional golfer with 2 heart transplants says he lives for the now
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Erik Compton burst on to the golf stage with a second place finish at last year's U.S. Open, but it's how he got there that is the source of inspiration for millions of people around the world.
Compton is set to play in this week's Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club, still looking for his first career Tour victory. But as a two-time heart transplant recipient, just being alive is a victory.
"If I walked around with no shirt, you would see that I have scars and battle wounds and what I've been through," Compton said.
"That's the miracle of what transplantation is - to be normal, to be able to reach your dreams and to be a family, a father, or a wife, just be a normal person. That's what it's about," he continued.
Along with the pressures of trying to earn a living as a professional golfer, Compton also knows he's an example of what's possible for the many people waiting on a life-saving transplant.
Even people who don't watch golf follow Compton's career. Along with his preparation to play this week, I joined him to shoot a public service announcement for Donate Life, and was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for their dedication of the Bell of Life at their transplant center.
"As I get older, I know the bigger picture is what your mark is off the golf course and outside the game," Compton said.
Compton's first heart transplant came in 1992 when he was 12. The next was in 2008 after a heart attack at age 28. Now at 35, you might think his near-death experiences have shaped him, but it's not that simple. Because for him, he's never known anything else.
"I've said it before and I'll say it now. I live in the now, you know? I got the Masters coming up in April, but who knows if I'm even alive in April? So, you've got to live the minutes that you're here right now and make the best of the opportunity and be happy for what you have right now," Compton said.
He's set to tee off Thursday morning for the Northern Trust Open.
