“Is this real life?”
Those were the first four words that Mo Martin said when she first learned that she had won the RICOH Women’s British Open.
The story is almost too good to be real life.
On the 72nd hole of one of golf’s biggest stages, the girl known as “Mighty Mo” delivered a shot for the ages that resulted in an eagle and made her a major champion.
On the par-5 18th at Royal Birkdale, Martin hit a three-wood that struck the pin. It left her with a six-foot putt for eagle and put Martin in the clubhouse at 1-under-par which held up for the UCLA Grad.
“It’s still soaking in, along with the champagne on my jacket,” said Martin, who was doused by many of her fellow LPGA players after her win. “This is just unbelievable. It’s literally a dream come true.”
But it wasn’t just the shot on 18 that made the difference. The 31-year-old American was the only player to finish under par at Royal Birkdale during the week, shooting an even-par 72 in the final round on a day when the conditions proved the toughest. Martin’s round of 72 tied for the lowest round of the day and gave her the LPGA victory that she had so long been seeking.
What makes Martin’s story even more impressive is how she got to the Tour.
Martin spent six years working her way to the LPGA Tour. After winning three times on the Epson Tour over that span, Martin finally made her LPGA dream come true as a 29-year-old rookie in 2012. And the man who was there cheering her the entire way was her grandfather, Lincoln, who passed away this past March at the age of 102. The two had become the best of friends and in memory of her grandfather, Martin wears an “L” necklace around her neck.
)
)
)
)
