MIAMI - JUST five months after having a second heart transplant, Erik Compton is on a golfing high at this week's Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Although disappointed not to make the most of ideal scoring conditions in Thursday's opening round, the American was delighted to be back on the PGA Tour after a three-year gap.

'I feel great',' Compton, 28, told reporters after firing a two-under-par 70 on the Walt Disney World Resort's Palm course.

'I made a lot of birdies and bogeys. The front nine I just didn't really have it and I knew I needed to get something going on the back because the scores are pretty low'.

Compton, who received a sponsor's invitation to compete in the final Tour event of the season, covered the back nine in three-under 33 to end the day seven strokes off the lead.

'I'm kind of disappointed with the way I scored today but I'm still in it', he said. 'I think I have just as good of a chance to play well as everybody else.'

Back in Tour action for the first time since the 2005 Doral Championship near his home in Miami, Compton was diagnosed with an enlarged heart as a child.

At the age of 12, he had his first transplant before going on to become a top junior golfer, competing as an amateur in the 2001 Walker Cup.

He had a second transplant in May this year and then conjured a final-round comeback with a sparkling 68 in the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying last month.

Compton produced one of just three sub-par rounds in gusting winds to earn a place in the second stage of qualifying later this month.

'It's unbelievable and playing a PGA Tour event this soon after the transplant, I'm kind of riding a wave right now,' he said. 'But that's how life is. You get opportunities and you try to make the most of them.' -- REUTERS