'Sign of hope': Women's British Open champ is getting replacement for trophy destroyed in L.A. fires

Everything was lost in Mo Martin’s childhood home in Altadena, Calif., due to the devastating Easton Fire in January. That includes items from junior golf photos to UCLA awards. And then the most treasured trophy from winning the Women’s British Open.

Martin eagled the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale in England to win in 2014. It was her lone LPGA victory, but it was a dandy. The trophy sat proudly in living room of the family’s 1,000-square-foot home in Altadena that they moved into when Mo was 3 years old.

Not even a week after the fire, Martin received an unexpected e-mail from Sophie Millar, head of player and guest services at The R&A. Millar heard the trophy was destroyed and wanted to replace it. There were many people that teamed up to give back that important piece of her golf career.

“It was like a beacon of hope,” Martin said in an interview with Golf Digest. “Knowing that they already knew, and cared, and were willing to replace something to me that was irreplaceable, it was such a sign of rebuilding and hope and the best possible thing that could come down the pipeline at that time. It made me cry. It made my mom cry. It was a wonderful gift to be given during that time, not even a week after everything that had happened.”

Edward Asprey, the designer of the sterling silver fluted trophy, e-mailed Martin recently that the replica is ready and en route to Southern California.

The 42-year-old Martin, who retired from professional golf a couple of years ago, now knows numerous calls were made to the R&A to let them know about the burned trophy. She still hasn’t figured out who those people are, but she’s so grateful.

“I still don’t know, Martin said. “That’s a little bit of a mystery. I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to every single person who worked on that. And everyone who said yes to it happening. My deepest gratitude to all the secret warriors who called on my behalf.”

The trophy wasn’t just about winning one of golf’s coveted majors, and that’s saying something. It was a symbol of a community and family. And that’s why Martin didn’t take it to her home in L.A.’s South Bay.

“I obviously would love to look at it and appreciate it on a daily basis, but it was a tribute. I thought of everything my mom [Linda] had done and my [late] dad [Allen] and my family,” Martin said. “Everything they sacrificed to make my dreams come true. Even the city of Altadena. I can think of Altadena and Pasadena, so many people that came together to help make this come true, giving me free range balls and helping me get clubs. Advice here and there.

“At Arroyo Secco where I used to practice, there was a putting green that had a turnstile for a quarter, but I didn’t have a quarter. They said just sneak under. They would just do the sign and say ‘go under.’ So I had their permission to go putt for free. I can trace so much opportunity that I have and the gifts I’ve been given to Altadena and Pasadena.”

Her dad had set up a net for her to hit balls in the driveway in Altadena. It was still there and another beacon of light, as she calls it, was that the structure of the hitting cage and some of the net survived the fire.

“It warms my heart and reminds me of all the hours that were put into that by my mom and dad,” Martin said.

Remarkably, she found part of the trophy for what’s now known as the AIG Women’s Open. At least, that’s what they think it is. So Martin took it to her house.

“I think I have what’s remaining of the original replica,” Martin said. “We’ve gone through the rubble and there’s not much left because this fire burned a lot hotter than your typical house fire. So many things are gone. We found something that was much heavier. We found something much heavier that was in the location of where the trophy was, which was in the center of the house. It’s pretty wild. You’d have no idea it was a trophy, but we can only imagine it is because of the weight … what do you do with that?

“It was once this beautiful piece of jewelry. I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do with that in the future. I’m going to keep it, and I want to turn it into something meaningful. Haven’t quite figured that out yet. That’s on hold because there’s a million other actionable items that need to happen. The fact that it will have sprung to life again and a picture of it coming to life again and all the people that made that happen. It’s a really beautiful sign of moving forward.”

Martin’s mom, brother, and four dogs, who all lived in the Altadena home that was destroyed, moved in with Martin in her two-bedroom townhouse in Redondo Beach. Their cat, Chico, is still missing. They haven’t lost hope that they’ll find him.

They’ll rebuild in Altadena, but in the meantime, they’re all together and grateful for that time. Soon, they’ll make room for the new trophy.

“There will definitely be happy tears,” Martin said. “I think I need to get my mom some shining cloths because she would shine the trophy every time the championship would happen. I’m sure she’s going to want to do that. We’ll put it in a very special place.”