LA JOLLA, Calif. — This was a highly educational week for Erik Compton, the PGA Tour player playing with his third heart after two transplants.
Compton, who before this week had never finished better than a tie for 13th, finished tied for 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open at 6-under par after a final-round 75. It was the first time Compton was truly in contention on the weekend.
“Even though I’ve experienced different kind of pressures, this was just that you can’t assess how loud it was out there and all the things that are going on,’’ said Compton, who played the final two rounds in the group ahead of winner Tiger Woods. “Your adrenaline is going, and you have to learn how to [handle] that.
“I think mentally, my game is in a better place. I know how to manage it and not grind it out.’’
Compton finished one shot out of a top-10 finish, which would have qualified him for this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“I didn’t really look at scoreboards,’’ he said. “I just knew it was hard out there. It is [disappointing], but what are you going to do? I made birdie on the last hole. I guess it’s better than a kick in the face.’’
* Woods won the tournament for the seventh time, one behind the record held by Sam Snead, who won the Greater Greensboro Open eight times. It was the eighth time Woods won at Torrey Pines, including his playoff win in the 2008 U.S Open. … Woods, who always wears red shirts for his Sunday final rounds, did not wear red this Sunday for the completion of the third round and beginning of the fourth because he said he was saving it for yesterday’s conclusion. He wore his customary red yesterday.
The next event Woods is likely to play is the Match Play next month in Arizona. After that, he’ll play the Honda Classic, Doral and Bay Hill — all in March in Florida.
His caddie, Joe LaCava, said he has been trying to convince Woods to play at Riviera in Los Angeles, where he said he thinks Woods would be very successful. Woods never plays Riviera because it doesn’t fit his schedule.
* Brad Fritsch, the rookie from Canada, birdied his last two holes for a 75 and tied for ninth, making him eligible for the Phoenix Open. Fritsch had been entered into yesterday’s qualifier, which he had to abandon when the Farmers Insurance Open lost Saturday to a fog delay and had to be completed yesterday.
* The best comeback of the week came from Rickie Fowler, who shook off an opening-round 77 to finish in a tie for sixth after shooting a final-round 68. His 77 was the highest opening-round score for any player who made the cut. … Aaron Baddeley, who was never in serious contention, closed with rounds of 68-69 to sneak into a tie for sixth. … Josh Teater finished in a tie for second with defending champion Brandt Snedeker at 10-under par, his best PGA Tour finish. … The best final-round scores came from Jason Day (66) and Robert Garrigus (67).