SAN FRANCISCO — The symbolism and juxtaposition were not lost on Casey Martin on Monday when he returned to the Olympic Club for the first time in 14 years.In 1998, the last time the United States Open was contested at Olympic, Martin was among the most notable participants not for his golf but because he had successfully sued golf’s establishment for the right to use a cart in a tournament. Martin, who has a rare circulatory condition in his right leg that makes him unable to walk long distances, won his case but only after some of the game’s biggest names testified or spoke out against his cause.During his first 1998 practice round, the cart provided to Martin broke down. Martin, then 26 years old and without much professional pedigree, continued with a quiet aplomb — despite sleepless nights, he said — and finished a respectable 23rd in the event. It was a highlight of the prime of Martin’s career. For some in golf, it is an episode not eagerly recalled.Martin was warmly greeted Monday by tournament officials, who showed him a strategic hole-by-hole route map for where he could ride his cart during the competition. He was assigned a cart caddie, someone who will helpfully bring the cart from an area near the green to the next tee while Martin is putting.Fans cheered him on the Olympic grounds, and the United States Golf Association hosted Martin for a standing-room-only news conference.“Everyone has been overly accommodating,” said Martin, now 40. “The controversy fades, and maybe because in some way, there is an appreciation. I’m just somebody trying to pursue his dreams like anybody else. I’m just trying to play this great game we all love.”That Martin was back at Olympic was a nearly magical confluence of diligence and destiny. Martin had not played in a bona fide golf competition for six years when he decided to enter the demanding qualifying process for this year’s United States Open. That the event was at Olympic was a motivating factor.But Martin, who became the golf coach at the University of Oregon shortly after he retired from professional golf in 2006, had almost no recent playing experience.Martin has Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, and while his right leg has not gotten drastically worse, it continues to be painful. He said Monday that 14 years ago he probably expected that his leg would be amputated by 2012.“But not playing the last six years has been a reprieve for my leg,” he said. “It’s not great, but it’s hanging in there.”In the qualifying last week, Martin shot back-to-back 69s, scores that were aided considerably in the second round when an errant tee shot that appeared lost was discovered all but hidden in mud just as Martin was heading back to the tee to hit again — with a penalty stroke. He clinched his United States Open spot by one stroke.“That is when I thought that something was going on here,” Martin said Monday.The time since has been a whirlwind with thousands of people sending their congratulations, including his former college teammate Tiger Woods, who posted online: “Simply incredible. Ability, attitude and guts. See you at Olympic, Casey.”Martin joked that it was not long after he qualified that he began to wonder what he had gotten himself into.“I am very excited to be here,” he said. “But there is a borderline fear factor.“It’s a great challenge for anyone, let alone a disabled 40-year-old golf coach.”Looking back on his court case, which reached the United States Supreme Court, Martin says he rarely thinks of the negative reaction his stance attracted.“I try not to focus on it too much and I don’t take it personally,” he said. “I realize that there is another side to my story and people can certainly — we can agree to disagree. But there’s a lot of people that are pulling for me.”If Martin still feels stung by the overwhelming chorus of golf voices who lined up in dissent against him, he does not show it.“Life is too short for that,” he said.Instead, on Monday, Martin told stories about gambling games with Woods on the Stanford golf team and how Woods once had to give him a check for $192. Martin had a copy of it made, which his mother put in Casey’s scrapbook, and then he cashed it. He added that he might play a practice round with Woods on Tuesday and give him a chance to win his money back — or not.“I know that it’s tough to get that wallet out,” Martin said. “That’s what I’ve been told.”More than anything, Martin was clearly happy to be back, and with no regrets, even if his professional career never led to the PGA Tour victories or the on-course acclaim some in golf predicted for him.“I am here at 40,” he said. “Even though I’m not playing for a living, I’m still playing. So I am grateful for that.”