Erik was born in Miami Florida where he learned he learned the game of golf at the age of 12. Six years later Erik became the #1 ranked junior golfer in the United States and the 1998 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year. He accepted a scholarship to play golf for the University of Georgia, where he went on to become a two time All-American playing on the 2001 Palmer Cup and Walker Cup teams.
Erik is best known throughout the golf world for his two heart transplants. His first heart transplant came in 1992, when he was 12 and his second transplant in 2008. For this, Compton was honored with the Ben Hogan Award in Augusta Georgia during the Masters in April 2009. Erik has also received the 2012 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award from the U.S. Sports Academy. In 2013 Erik was among many distinguished recipients of the Donate Life Champion award. This award is given to role models in the sports community who have made a difference by inspiring others through their support for organ donation.
After turning professional in 2001 he played on the Nationwide Tour in 2002, 2005-2007. His best finish was a T2 at the 2004 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open. Erik played on the Canadian Tour in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, he dominated the Canadian Tour, winning twice and also winning the Order of Merit title. He also won the 2005 Hassan II Golf Trophy in Morocco.
During 2010 Erik continued to impress by making the cut in five of the seven PGA TOUR events he played in, including the Memorial Tournament and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His best round of the year was a 63 at the Greenbrier Classic where he held the first round lead. Other 2010 highlights included qualifying for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and making it through the final stage of the 2010 PGA Qualifying school thus earning status on the Nationwide Tour.
The 2011 season lead Erik to earning his PGA TOUR card for the first time. In 2011 he racked up three top-5 finishes including a win in the Mexican Open. He has assured himself a spot in the Top 25 on the Money List which guaranteed him a spot on the PGA Tour for the 2012 season. In 2012 Erik played 21 PGA events, making 12 cuts. In the fall of 2012 Erik returned to PGA Tour Q School and once again earned his card with six straight under par rounds.
2013 has been Erik’s best golf year ever. He has already earned three PGA TOUR top 25 finishes, including a tie for fourth place at the Honda Classic. Erik is ranked among the top 70 on the PGA TOUR for 2013 winnings and 60th in the FedEx cup ranking.