Four players – Bill Haas, Justin Thomas, Michael Putman and Erik Compton – share the lead going into the final round of the Humana Challenge.

The foursome are locked at 17-under par with Haas, as a winner of five Tour titles including winning the Humana in 2010, as the big threat to his leading rivals.

As well, there is another four players – Matt Kuchar, Ryan Palmer, Scott Pinckney and Steve Wheatcroft –just one shot off the lead on 16-under par.

However the best human interest story among the leaders is Compton, a double heart transplant patient.

Compton continues to make progress in his professional career after having a second heart transplant in 2008. He finished runner-up at last year’s U.S. Open to earn his first Masters Tournament bid. He’s played the previous three seasons on the PGA TOUR – finishing a career-best 64th in last season’s FedExCup – after winning on the Web.com Tour in 2011.

Double heart transplant Eric Compton enjoying a four way share of the 54-hole Humana Challenge lead. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

“I think every day has been a blessing,” Compton said. “I’m constantly reminded of what I’ve gone through and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what I’ve been through or what I’ve had to deal with.”

Three of Compton’s four career top-10s came last season, including the U.S. Open that gave him the confidence that he could contend on the PGA TOUR.

“I’m probably more at ease with myself and not really feeling like I have to prove anything,” he said.

“Confidence is huge in this game.”

Kuchar posted a one under par 71 and is coming off five consecutive top-25 finishes at this event, including a runner-up to co-leader Bill Haas in 2010.

Kuchar’s tee shot on the short par-3 17th bounced off the mountain right of the hole, bounded across the green and into the canal that lines to the left of the hole. His second shot at the par-5 18th landed on land left of the green before bouncing into the water.

“The beauty about the game is we have four rounds and I have another chance tomorrow,” Kuchar said. “Regardless if I birdied 18 or parred 18, … I still have to make a lot of birdies tomorrow and I may have to make a couple more now, but it will be fun to still have a chance tomorrow.”

Kuchar also is in good form coming off a third-place finish at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.