DUBAI (AFP) - American transplant golfer Erik Compton's brave bid to make the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic ended in failure on Saturday.
Eight months after undergoing a second heart transplant, he received a sponsor's invitation to play in the European Tour event and travelled all the way from his home in Miami to take part.
He gave himself hope of making the cut with an opening one-under 71 on Thursday but a three-over 75 on Saturday wrecked his chances.
Diagnosed at age nine with cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood, Compton had his first transplant at 12 years old and he only took up golf as part of his rehabilitation.
He quickly devloped into one of the top junior players in the United States and was a No.1 ranked amateur and a two-time All-American at Georgia before he turned pro in 2001 playing mostly on the secondary Nationwide Tour.
Tragically, he suffered a massive heart attack last year and had to undergo a second transplant in May 2008.
Five months later he was back in competition advancing to the second stage of the PGA Tour's qualifying tournament.
Compton will now head home for the birth of his first child and will take up another sponsor's invitation to the prestigious Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour.