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EDISON, N.J. (AP) — Erik Compton ended his season Thursday when he withdrew from The Barclays after eighth hole with a respiratory infection.
Compton, who already has gone through two heart transplants, was No. 122 in the FedEx Cup and would have needed a strong week to move into the top 100 and advance to the next playoff event at the TPC Boston.
Last week at the Wyndham Championship, the 35-year-old Compton opened with a career-low 62 but had to withdraw before the third round because of gout. He spent last week at home in Miami and developed a respiratory infection, and didn't decide to show up in New Jersey until Wednesday night to give it a shot.
"I felt like I walked out of the emergency room and teed it up," he said.
He was 6 over through eight holes when he got in a cart and left the course.
"My season is over with," Compton said. "It's been a tough season on my body. Luckily, I wasn't in a situation where I had to go back and get my card. But I need to get healthy and be ready to play in the fall."
Compton rarely has it easy. He had his first heart transplant when he was 12, and then suffered a heart attack and drove himself to the hospital in 2008. He received another heart transplant and eventually made it to the PGA Tour. This is the third straight year he has finished in the top 125 to keep his tour card.
But he has to take a concoction of medication, and one of them can lead to gout. That's what stopped him in North Carolina last week.
"You're fine one night and you wake up and feel like your foot is broken," he said. "I've been in bed throughout the weekend. Monday I went to the doctor. And on top of that, I got an upper respiratory infection. I should have just stayed home, but I tried to wing it."
Compton said he plans to play in the season-opening Frys.com Open in California in October and hopes to get off to a good start to allow himself a few more breaks. As for his hopes of having a healthy season? He's never been able to count on that.
"If I withdrew every time I didn't feel well, I might not make it a full season," he said.
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