Compton shot back after 1st round

Stallings leads, while Mcilroy rallies late, Mickelson withdraws.

DUBLIN, OHIO —

Erik Compton considers the Memorial a special week no matter how he plays, knowing his second heart transplant came from a donor in Ohio.

The opening round was even sweeter with three birdies on the back nine late Thursday afternoon at Muirfield Village for a 5-under-par 67, leaving him one-shot out of the lead after a day that featured a timely rally by Rory McIlroy and a surprising departure by Phil Mickelson.

When the day ended, Scott Stallings was atop the leaderboard with a 66 and hardly anyone noticed.

Compton has been an amazing story as long as he has played golf. He had his first heart transplant at 12, played in the Walker Cup after a solid career at Georgia, nearly died from a heart attack on his way home from the golf course in 2007, had a second transplant in May 2008 — he got that heart from Isaac Klosterman, a former Chaminade Julienne High School and University of Dayton athlete who was killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his motorcycle near Palm Beach, Fla. — and earned his PGA Tour card for the first time last year through the Nationwide Tour.

“It’s just a great story, obviously, and it’s a great place — for me, it’s a special place,” Compton said. “For me, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my donor. To be able to play here, regardless of whether I play good or bad, it’s just always a nice week.”

Tiger Woods chopped up the 18th hole for a double bogey and still managed a 2-under 70.

Complete scores from the first round of the Memorial.