Those of us -- Oh, who am I kidding -- Those of you with HBO can tune in at 9 p.m. Tuesday to catch a profile of Tour pro Erik Compton on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Many may not be familiar with Compton's on-course record, but it's worth catching up with his story. At 32, Compton, who was diagnosed with a heart disorder 20 years ago, is on his third heart. But we won't step on the video's toes. Here's a preview:

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, who was relaxing at Muirfield Village on Wednesday morning before a handful of interviews to promote donatelife.net, said he nearly withdrew from the HP Byron Nelson Championship after a health scare two weeks ago.

"I didn't want to freak anybody out, so I didn't say anything," Compton said.

Compton wasn't feeling well in the third round and considered withdrawing after only a few holes. He stuck it out, carded a 71, and saw a doctor on site at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas, Texas. After Compton divulged his medical history, and a few tests proved inconclusive but troubling, the doctor insisted that Compton go to the ER for more tests Saturday night. He began feeling better, was discharged around midnight, and despite everything shot a final-round 68 to tie for 36th place.

"I made 18 birdies, which led the field," Compton said, "but my head wasn't in it for big portions of the tournament. I three-putted 10 times."

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. - Erik Compton thought he'd be more emotional. He thought memories of the two heart transplants and the recovery that followed would consume him the moment he earned his PGA Tour card.

But when Compton won last weekend's Mexico Open - which vaulted him to No. 2 on the Nationwide Tour's money list and all but assured him a PGA Tour membership next season - he didn't cry. Instead, excitement was the prevailing emotion as Compton jetted from Mexico to Philadelphia on Monday for this weekend's AT&T National, where he is playing with a sponsor's exemption.

When asked Wednesday about the emotions of his last couple of days, Compton said, "I don't even know where to begin."

Compton, a former All-American at Georgia, had an enlarging of the heart called cardiomyopathy that led to a transplant in 1992, when he was 12. He needed another transplant in 2008 when that heart failed.

Compton was admittedly fatigued heading into Thursday's first round;  the AT&T National marks his fifth tournament in as many weeks.

Wearing a violet shirt and showing off his wide, toothy smile, Compton didn't seem the least bit worried about fatigue affecting his play. This will be his fifth PGA Tour event of the season and his 17th since having his second heart transplant in 2008. His best finish came at the Northern Trust Open in February, where he tied for 25th.

"Once I get on the tee, I think I'll be ready to play and excited," Compton said. "I'm just trying to take it real slow."

As his PGA Tour career starts to take shape, Compton will remain realistic with his goals. His heart will continue to limit his energy level and playing schedule.

He only hits balls for 20-25 minutes before a round, and his off-weeks aren't spent practicing, either. Sometimes, he doesn't even take his clubs out of the suitcase at home. He relaxes, goes fishing, and spends time with his wife, Barbara, and baby, Petra.

After leaving Philadelphia, Compton will have his annual cardiac check-up and take some much-needed time off.

Compton is cognizant of the fact that he'll always be known as the guy who is on his third heart. As he says, "It's such a crazy, crazy story." But after last week's victory, he has a new title that's nearly as meaningful: card-carrying member of the PGA Tour.

"The doctors are shocked and people in the transplant world are shocked," Compton said. "I'm shocked because I always said I would be on Tour and play, but now it's a reality. My dream is finally coming true, and it couldn't have happened at a better time."

(Photo: Adam Davis/Icon SMI)

The Tavistock Cup pits Tour pros from Orlando’s Isleworth gated community against the nearby Lake Nona gated community; a better name might be the Let Them Eat Cake Open. Lake Nona has boasted stars like Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia since the event’s 2004 inception, while Isleworth has had Stewart Appleby, Charles Howell III and Tiger Woods. However, Woods, who is an Isleworth resident until he moves into his James Bond villain hideout on Jupiter Island, might be changing sides this year, according to The Orlando Sentinel. 

Woods is a co-investor — along with Tavistock Group and Ernie Els — in the new luxury community rising in the Bahamas, making him eligible to be plucked from red-clad Isleworth in the Cup's version of an expansion draft. Albany and England's Queenwood Golf Club join the competition this year, giving even more of an international scope to the all-Orlando showdown between Lake Nona and Isleworth touring pros.The two-day event begins March 14 at Isleworth.

Ian Poulter, a homeowner at both Lake Nona and Albany, disclosed in a Twitter post last week he is changing sides and noted Woods would be an Albany teammate.

McDowell aces poker game, world rankings

Phil Mickelson has had a chipper start to his 2011 season (two top 10s in four starts, including second at the Farmers Insurance Open), but it wasn’t enough to hold off Graeme McDowell in the Official World Golf Rankings. McDowell overtook Mickelson for the No. 4 spot in the latest rankings. Here’s how the rankings look now:

1. Lee Westwood

2. Martin Kaymer

3. Tiger Woods

4. Graeme McDowell

5. Phil Mickelson

6. Paul Casey

7. Rory McIlroy

8. Steve Stricker

9. Luke Donald

10. Jim Furyk

For his part, McDowell wasn’t too interested in the weekly ups and downs of the rankings; he was more concerned about winning his poker game with Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and caddie Kenny Comboy, if McDowell's Twitter feed was any indication:

Poker update- I was chip leader for a long time but finished 2nd. My caddy Kenny Comboy took the loot. Henrik and Poults battled out for 3rd

McDowell also posted video of the game here. Sadly, no commentary from Gabe Kaplan. 

Human target practice helps Compton shoot 64

We had a lot of great story lines at the Northern Trust Open last week: 1. Aaron Baddeley’s return from the wilderness to win; 2. Fred Couples making another thrilling run on Tour at age 51; and 3. Vijay Singh getting his putting groove back. Still, Erik Compton’s 64 on Sunday might have had the best ending of all.

Compton, who’s had two heart transplants, made the field through a Monday qualifier and finished T25 after shooting a tournament low 64 on Sunday. SI Golf Plus contributor Stephanie Wei of WeiUnderPar caught up to Compton on the driving range Saturday as Compton was doing an unusual drill:

I noticed his caddie was standing in the line of fire … and catching the shots hit near him with a towel. I asked, "Did he give you the wrong yardage today or something?"

“No, I’m trying to figure out my yardages,” explained Compton. “I haven’t played in a while, so I don’t know my distances. I keep feeling like I’m going to fly the green.”

After about 20 balls, Compton switched clubs and hollered, “130!” His caddie walked back ten yards.

Compton also said he hasn’t been working with a swing coach in the last year, saying he’s just been “trying to get back to swing.”

“I’m trying to keep my arms closer to my body (through impact),” Compton said. “I think I’ve been pulling across (in my downswing) and the ball has been going left."

Riviera’s seventh hole was end of the road for Fred Couples

After his final round 73 at the Northern Trust Open, Fred Couples had no difficulty pinpointing where it all went wrong: his drive on the seventh hole, which landed way right on a bank covered in primeval-looking rough. Couples, who suffers from severe back pain, said he never hit another good shot after ripping his second shot on 7 out of the rough. He made a double-bogey 6 on the hole.

Q. What went wrong?

FRED COUPLES: You know, I hit a poor shot on 6 and then drove it in that stuff on 7. We were lucky to find it. Then when I hit it out of there, I just didn't feel the same after that. I didn't really hurt myself, but I never hit a shot, and I just got it around. I mean, I couldn't hit an iron. I hit a few good drives, but I was like afraid to hit the ground, hitting it that hard out of that stuff. But again, I did get off to a good start, and that was where it ended.

Q. Were you worried about that when you saw your ball and knew it was in there?

FRED COUPLES: Well, I knew it wouldn't feel very good, but nothing bad happened, I just didn't feel at all. I started snap-hooking them and didn't hit it very far. I hit a drive on 18 and it didn't go anywhere, then I snap-hooked it on 9. I started getting outdriven by 20, 30 yards, and I did hit a couple good ones, but it just was rough. It's nothing bad, I'm not having any excuse. It's just after that point I never hit a shot.

Tweet of the Day: From golf writer Geoff Shackelford on Kevin Na’s slower-than-a-Denny’s-waitress play at Riviera last week:

@geoffshac: New Rule: If Your Caddy Is Plum-bobbing Your Putts, You're On The Wrong Tour: http://bit.ly/ijM4eu.

One of the most dramatic golf stories of the year is Erik Compton's attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour after having his second heart transplant just five months ago. He has advanced to the second stage of Q-school, where he shot two-under 70 on Wednesday and Thursday at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla. At four under after two days, he trailed the leaders by three shots.

Qualifying continues today through Saturday, and you can follow his progress on pgatour.com's official site. For information on all of the qualifying sites, go here.