The story is here.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/erik-comptons-drug-regimen-poor-play-has-him-considering-packing-it-in

I know the Tour has their eligibility requirements and there's obviously a need for that. And maybe I'm being short-sided here in assuming that making a one-time exception for a very exceptional instance of this nature would be unfair to others who have been forced to cut their playing careers short due to medical reasons.

It's just a very inspiring story, I guess, that in the end isn't expected to deliver the ending that many of us prefer to witness... especially considering that just a couple years earlier when Kaymer won the US Open at Pinehurst in such a lopsided fashion - Compton's remarkably inspiring story provided an enormous amount of interest to an otherwise boring major championship.

On a personal level he probably has somewhat of a personal belief that he never totally realized his dream, but considering the overall scheme of things - that couldn't be further from the truth.

Whether he decides to keep trying to get his tour card back or moves on in life to something else, those of us who've followed his story over the past decade wish him the very best, in both health and his future endeavors.

edited to note the misspelling - Erik with a K, not a C. My apologies...

  • ode likes this.

Thx for posting and fond memories of his high finish at the US Open.....I hope he keeps fighting, who knows when there will be a break thru medication/treatment wise that might make it a bit more bearable for him.....it's clearly got him down and has been having g a detrimental impact on his game and overall enjoyment on life....his choice and will respect it either way, but if he gives it up now, there may be no coming back to the game at the highest level, especially at his age.

    ode

    Yeah, unfortunately I agree with your opinion about what an extended layoff might mean long-term for him.

    The crux of the issue at hand is obviously his health, and considering his most recent heart transplant was back in 2008 - it's pretty sobering data suggesting that the average life expectancy for a heart transplant patient is roughly ten years... hopefully he proves to be the positive exception who far exceeds that statistic.

    So although one could definitely make the argument that chasing his dream has strengthened him mentally and physically during this time, it also stands to reason that additional stress above and beyond hitting a golf ball proficiently enough to maintain his career, at least at this stage of his life anyway, is becoming a burden that maybe he doesn't really need given his health condition.

    I really feel for the guy. You read occasional headlines talking about Jason Day being sidelined for two months because of a bad back, or Tiger not feeling confident enough in his game to return to action anytime soon, etc. and then you read this story and suddenly an entirely different perspective appears.


    • ode likes this.