Woods on Compton: It's an unbelievable story

• By Randall Mell
• Jan 25, 2013 9:05 PM ET

SAN DIEGO – Erik Compton’s run up the leaderboard Friday at the Farmers Insurance Open caught Tiger Woods’ attention.

Compton shot a 7-under-par 65 on the North Course at Torrey Pines, equaling Woods for low round of the day. Compton, 33, who realized his PGA Tour dream after undergoing two heart transplants, moved into a tie for third going into the weekend.

“It's an unbelievable story,” Woods said. “The attitude that it takes to go through something like that, I don't think any of us could possibly understand it. There are very few people who have had organ transplants and who have survived and had great lives. They understand it.

“But to do what he's doing out here and being a professional and working his way to this level is just remarkable.”

A Compton victory this week might rank as the best stories in the history of the PGA Tour, but just halfway through the Farmers Insurance Open he wasn’t about to look ahead to Sunday. He wasn’t about to get caught up in chasing Woods, either.

“I figured Tiger would probably get to 12 under today, or do something nuts,” Compton said. “This is like his playground, but I can’t really pay attention to what he does. I have my own battles of what I need to do and get better at. I’m happy where I am, considering how badly I drove the ball. I want to play my game and see what’s as good as I can get.”

Compton, 33, is looking to better his career best PGA Tour finish, 13^th as a rookie last year at the John Deere Classic last year.