AVONDALE, La. – Erik Compton had just opened this Zurich Classic with a 6-under 66, and he was the clubhouse leader at the time, but the first question posed by a local TV reporter had nothing to do with Compton’s golf. It was about his heart transplants.
“It will always be like that,” Compton shrugged. “I think it will change once I win a tournament and people will focus more on that, but I haven’t proven myself as being a top player out here.”
True, but the 34-year-old appears to be drawing closer to that maiden Tour title. Last month he tied for fifth at Bay Hill, his second career top 10, and three weeks ago he opened with 66 in Houston on his way to a T-12.
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His 66 Thursday, capped by a 22-foot birdie putt on his final hole, left him two shots off the early pace.
“The weeks when you’re putting well, you look forward to playing golf,” he said. “And the weeks when you play well, you have a chance to win.”