LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Before he sets out to try to keep his PGA Tour card, Erik Compton received an award Wednesday that was just as meaningful.
Compton, a two-time heart transplant recipient, was selected for the Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award by the United States Sports Academy. The award is given to a person who shows courage in overcoming adversity to excel in sport.
Zaharias, among the greatest ever in LPGA Tour history, won her 10th and final major one month after surgery for colon cancer in 1953.
“She did something that I’ve never dream of doing — winning a major,” Compton said. “I guess I have dreamed, but it just hasn’t come true yet.”
Compton received his first heart transplant at age 12. He went on to play for Georgia and compete on the Walker Cup team in 2001. He had a major heart attack in 2008, drove himself to the hospital and was fortunate to survive before getting a second heart transplant.
Just six months later, Compton was given an exemption to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at Disney and made the cut. He returns to Disney this year as a full PGA Tour member, having earned his card last year. But he is at No. 163 on the money list, and would need a runner-up finish to keep his card.
PGA CEO: Golfweek magazine reported Wednesday that Pete Bevacqua has been offered the job as chief executive for the PGA of America and could be introduced later this week in Baltimore at the PGA’s annual meeting.
Bevacqua, 41, had spent 11 years with the U.S. Golf Association as a lawyer and as the first chief business officer in 2007. He was in the running for LPGA Tour commissioner in 2009 (the job went to Mike Whan), and he resigned from the USGA in 2011. Bevacqua now works for the golf division at CAA Sports.
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