PINEHURST, N.C. – Erik Compton texted Ernie Els early Wednesday to reminisce a couple of memorable begin to what turned out to be an unforgettable week.
Compton, who was taking part in his third full season on the PGA Tour in 2014, teamed with Els throughout a observe spherical on the ’14 U.S. Open to beat main champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
“They had been like, who is that this man?” Compton recalled. “Ernie was laughing as a result of he and I had a relationship and I’d performed observe rounds with him.”
It’s certainly one of numerous recollections Compton has from his runner-up end, a profession high-water mark on the largest stage. Actually, Compton stated he thinks concerning the ’14 U.S. Open nearly daily, and it’s on his thoughts much more so with the championship’s return to Pinehurst No. 2.
Compton isn’t in North Carolina this week. He has his palms full getting ready and taking part in within the Korn Ferry Tour occasion in Kansas. Nonetheless, the recollections of that ’14 championship are by no means far off. The second-round 68 that set the stage for a particular weekend; the third-round 67 to maneuver to inside 5 photographs of front-runner and eventual winner Martin Kaymer; the sliding 8-footer for par on the 72nd gap to safe his runner-up end — his finest displaying in 169 PGA Tour begins; and the followers who embraced his story so totally.
“I bear in mind how a lot my adrenaline was working that entire week and the way I used to be in a position to management my nerves,” Compton informed Golf Channel. “I give it some thought on a regular basis as a result of it was such an important reminiscence for me and the household. My caddie and I speak about it on a regular basis. For a man like me, that was the skilled spotlight of my profession, however not my life.”
Compton is, by any definition, a medical miracle having survived two coronary heart transplant surgical procedures, the primary coming when he was 12 years outdated. The second surgical procedure got here in 2008 which made his efficiency in ’14 at Pinehurst such a storybook second.
The skilled fairytale didn’t proceed, although, as he misplaced his card after the 2015-16 season and has since primarily been competing on the KFT. On the non-public aspect, in August 2023, he was arrested on felony and misdemeanor home violence prices.
His highway has by no means led again to Pinehurst. He deliberate to request an exemption from native qualifying this 12 months however there was a “miscommunication” between he and his supervisor and he missed the deadline to use. The USGA does grant particular exemptions into the U.S. Open, just like the affiliation did this 12 months for Tiger Woods, however that additionally requires a participant to use earlier than the Might 15 deadline.
“He didn’t apply for [an exemption] and didn’t get his entry in in time,” stated USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer. “Our particular exemption [into the championship] course of is admittedly laddered as much as particular — some assume it’s a sponsor exemption, however it’s a standards that we use that’s extraordinary, notably on the U.S. Open and USGA championships. Majors, world No. 1, Tour wins, we take a look at all of that. In case you take a look at who we give it to, it’s fairly uncommon. It will have been a tricky bar however we’re going to overlook him and we informed him that.”
As a substitute, Compton stated he’s trying ahead to watching how the course performs this 12 months in comparison with 2014.
“I’m extra interested by watching the blokes play and seeing how they do. There are such a lot of guys who I can see do what I did. I can see Harry Higgs making the same run,” he stated. “I can see the golf course selecting the story; Pinehurst is a kind of programs anyone can have an important week.”
