Major champion Mo Martin seemingly always has a smile on her face, and that smile becomes a full-on grin whenever she steps foot onto Aviara Golf Club. The 2014 AIG Women’s Open winner grew up in suburban Los Angeles and loves it any time she gets to cruise down the 5 to Carlsbad.

“I love southern California for so many reasons and I love this golf course. It's one of my favorites. Definitely all season, all of my career, really love playing here. I think my second year here I finished in a tie for second,” said Martin. “I've just had good vibes, even from the volunteers to all my fans and family that have come down. It's just been special. I felt a lot of support and just felt like it's home.”

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Martin’s family can’t join her on site this week. She even joked that she asked security that “if they see my mom in the bushes trying to sneak through, don't tackle her too hard. Just gently bring her away.” But she’ll keep the memory of those Go Mo buttons close to heart.

This week also marks just Martin’s fourth LPGA Tour event since the 2019 ANA Inspiration, battling with a back injury that left her sidelined for months. Martin has long been a fighter, telling her #DriveOn “Never Quit” story of childhood golf instruction from her dad and a book, limited financial means and even more limited opportunities. That Drive On spirit helped Martin push through the last two difficult years, knowing that she was made it through tough times to earn that first title at Royal Birkdale and knowing that this game has brought so much goodness into her life.

“I fell in love with golf really from day one, and through junior golf somebody anonymously started paying my entry fees and helped me for a couple years,” said Martin, who walked on at UCLA and ended up with a four-year collegiate career. “Through this piece and reaching out to a few people I was able to find that person to thank them and promise them that I'm going to continue to do the same thing – to look out for the kids who may be lost in the cracks to come and just to hopefully have everybody that wants to be a part of golf be a part of golf and let that magic happen, too.”

Martin will start her 2021 LPGA Tour season at 7:33 a.m. PT off No. 10 tee, playing alongside Escondido native Haley Moore and University of Southern California alumna Jennifer Chang.

Mo Martin Continues Her #DriveOn Journey At the Kia Classic

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