Sophia Popov did it.
She shocked the world.
She won the AIG Women’s Open Sunday in an epic indelible triumph, and claimed the grand championship title in her first stage at venerable Royal Throne, for her first tournament title anywhere outside of the three mini-tournament events she won earlier this year.
“I think it’s an incredible story,” Popov said. “I think that’s why I’m breaking on the 18th hole, because it’s something I could not have dreamed of just a week ago.”
Popov started No. 304 this week in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, a Symetra Tour player who did not even have LPGA status. She was caddy at an LPGA event just three weeks ago.
No one has ever won a major with a lower ranking since the Rolex ranking was created in ’06.
The 27-year-old’s performance on Sunday called all that in the way she refused to meet with Jasmine Suwannapura and Inbee Park applied early pressure. There were a flood of tears before Popov himself finally tapped, concluding with a 3-under-par 68 to finish at 277, two strokes better than Suwannapura (67) and four better than Minjee Lee (69).
Winning moment: Popov’s life-changing victory at the Women’s Open
“It feels great,” Popov said. “There is a lot of hard work behind it, and a lot of effort that I have put in the last six years. I’m just glad I was able to overcome everything and just keep my head in it.
‘I knew I was capable. I had just thrown a lot of obstacles in my way, and I’m glad I stuck with it. I almost stopped playing last year, so thank God I did not have that. ”
The challenges that Popov overcame went beyond what Royal Troon offered this week. During Sunday’s news conference after the trophy presentation, they first revealed the nature of some hurtful health issues.
A mysterious illness triggered Popov’s LPGA rookie season back in 2015. The former USC All-American said she lost about 25 pounds during that time, and struggled with stomach problems.
“Honestly, we did not even know what it was,” Popov said. “It took a total of about 20 doctor visits, three years later, to find out I had Lyme disease.”
Popov said there were about 10 different symptoms that complicated the diagnosis.
Scores of full field of the AIG Women’s Open
“It was just a hard time going through, just because I didn’t know what it was,” she said. ‘It took so long to determine exactly what happened.
“It was just a fight, and actually knew my inner circle so far.”
Popov said she is still dealing with suffering effects, but she has them under control.
“It was a long way to get here because there was a lot of personal research, and figuring out for myself what would make me feel better,” she said. “I’m glad I’m at the point where I feel pretty good, and hopefully it stays that way.”
The year has been a pop wind for Popov, despite the shutdowns of LPGA and Symetra Tour amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Popov lost its conditional LPGA status last year, and then failed to regain it by a single shot on Q-Series. She won three Cactus Tour events in Downtime, a development circuit in Arizona, where she now makes her home. They were their first three professional victories anywhere. She unexpectedly entered the Marathon Classic two weeks ago with her Symetra Tour status, when the LPGA was unable to fill its field amid the new coronavirus pandemic. She tied there for ninth, starting her first top-10 finish in 32 career LPGA. It closed one of the qualifying venues for special events for the AIG Women’s Open.
“The British Open for me was a bonus,” Popov said. ‘I came here on Tuesday, and I said,’ You know, I know my game is in really good shape. I know that anything is possible. ‘And I think I took that belief with me after every round, but I never expected this. ”
With the victory, Popov deserves an LPGA release, effectively starting with the Cambia Portland Classic, September 17-20. Interestingly, this means that she is not eligible for the second major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, 10-13 sept.
Popov once thought to stop: ‘God said I did not’
There was in that only special motivation.
“Honestly, that was like one of the biggest things that kept me going all the way, just, you know, just getting my card back and being back where I feel I belong,” she said. .
Popov is the first German to win a female title. In fact, Popov has dual citizenship. She was born in Massachusetts and moved to Germany as a child.
The winner’s check for $ 675,000 is more than six times Popov’s career LPGA income. She said walking down the Royal Throne, trying to enjoy the picturesque views with her caddy / friend, Maximilian Mehles, helped her keep up with what was going on at the finish line on Sunday. He is also German, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, looking to start his pro career when the pandemic subsides.
“This is straight from a movie,” Mehles said of the coasts on the coast.
“It honestly looked a bit like ‘Lord of the Rings’ to me,” Popov said.
There was a sense of accomplishment in what the couple experienced Sunday.
You have to go, go back and forth to realize how unpredictable Popov’s victory was.
How far?
Certainly past Hilary Lunke in the women’s competition, past Lunke’s stunning win at the US Women’s Open in Pumpkin Ridge in 2003. Lunke was at least an LPGA member when she won her major.
Maybe all the way back to Catherine Lacoste in the women’s game. She won the US Women’s Open as an amateur in 1967. It was only her third start in a professional event.
Popov then struggled to drink to the extent of her triumph.
“About the moon,” she said. ‘I honestly do not even know how to describe it in words. I think no words will describe what I feel. It’s a mix of just overexcitation and emotions, just all kinds of emotions, and I honestly can’t quite believe it yet. ‘
.
