Reigning Ricoh Women’s British Open champion Mo Martin today admitted how she feared for her golfing future after reaching the highs of Major glory.

The 32-year-old Californian is at Turnberry this week for the defence of a title she won in spectacular fashion at Royal Birkdale 12 months ago.

Martin had never won on the main LPGA Tour, but she made a sensational breakthrough with a three-wood into the very last hole which rattled the flag and led to an eagle that gave her a one-shot victory.

Just a week after that success, Martin was brought crashing back down to earth when a shot with that same three-wood in another tournament led to excruciating pain in a hand.

Martin said: “I felt a searing pain through a thumb and it took three doctors before I got a proper diagnosis. It was called a dorsal impingement. The joint capsule got so inflamed that it collapsed and my bone was pinching all these nerves. For four or five months I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to swing pain-free again.

“To have made the peak of the mountain by winning the Open and then run it to that was tough. I tried not to think about it (giving up), but if I was still in that amount of pain I wouldn’t be able to do it. I was pretty devastated at the time.

“It’s been a roller-coaster, but the thumb is splinted now and it’s pain-free. I’ve had to change my grip and that was another challenge on top of everything, but I’m just happy to be back playing and that I have the opportunity to defend my title this week.”

Martin forms part of a glittering field in Ayrshire that also includes world No.1 Inbee Park, who is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam, as well as teenage star Lydia Ko and the world No.3 Stacy Lewis.

Michelle Wie, who finished third in the Women’s British Open as a teenage amateur a decade ago and has since won the US Women’s Open as a pro, has also shrugged off a niggling injury to tee up over the storied Ailsa course.

Glasgow’s Kylie Walker and Lanark’s Pamela Pretswell are among a posse of seven Scots in a draw that also includes Troon amateur Connie Jaffrey.