Sophia Popov becomes extremely unlikely AIG British Women’s Open champion

Sophia Popov (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

If anyone had picked Sophia Popov to win the 2020 AIG British Women’s Open champion on Sunday. they would have become extremely wealthy. Heading into Royal Troon, Popov of Baden, Germany, was 304th in the Rolex World Rankings and only qualified for the first major of the year because she finished in the top 10 at the 2020 Marathon Classic. At the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvana, Ohio on August 9, Popov finished tied for ninth, at -7, and eight strokes back of eventual champion Danielle Kang.

Now everyone is starting to know about Germany’s first female golf major champion. Popov, who has dual American-German citizenship because she was born in Massachusetts, has been dealing with Lyme Disease, which has impacted her ability to play golf at a high level. Once she was finally able to get a proper diagnosis, Popov has seen her golf game improve. However, one must also realize Popov was only caddying for Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands at the beginning of August, which makes her victory at the British Open even more stunning.

In the four rounds of golf this past weekend, Popov was clearly the best golfer in the field at Royal Troon. She shot a final score of -7, which beat Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand by two strokes. Popov was at one-under-par after the first round, and then shot a one-over-par 72 in round two, to be at even par at the halfway point. In the third round, Popov shot a four-under-par 67, and in the fourth round, Popov had a three-under-par 68.

Popov’s most magnificent came on the par-five fourth hole in round three. There she was able to record an eagle with a magnificent approach shot that landed the ball in striking distance of the hole. It was reminiscent of the remarkable tee shot made by Collin Morikawa, who recorded an eagle on the 16th hole of the fourth round in winning the 2020 PGA Championship.

This is the first of four women’s golf majors in 2020. The other three are in the United States.

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