Two-Time Heart Transplant Recipient Wins Golf Tourney

Had first transplant at age 12, then another onb three years ago

A golfer who survived two heart transplants shot a 65 to win a major tournament in Mexico.

Erik Compton, who first got a new ticker at age 12 after being diagnosed with an enlarged heart, then got a new one 16 years later when that one failed three years ago, won the Mexico Open.

"This tournament has kind of summed up my life," said Compton. "There was a lot of adversity to overcome in this tournament just like what I've dealt with personally."

Compton finished his four rounds at 17-under 271 and earned a $126,000 purse. The former University of Georgia star has earned $215,709 so far this year and has  all but guaranteed himself a PGA Tour card for next year. He said the victory shows he can compete on his merits and not just because of his unique story.

"I do get a lot of opportunities to play in PGA Tour events because of my story," he said. "But now that I've won out here and I've pretty much secured my tour card and I'll get into events on that alone. And I've been playing professionally since I was 20 years old and never won, so I feel like it's a monkey off my back."

Compton will play this coming weekend in the PGA Tour's AT&T National in Pennsylvania.

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