Germany’s Sophia Popov scored a huge win for the underdog when she claimed a maiden Major title in the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon yesterday.
The unheralded 27-year-old, who came into the championship ranked 304th in the world and without a main tour victory, secured the winner’s cheque of US$675,000 with a classy two-stroke success over the famous Ayrshire links.
Leading by three shots overnight, Popov held her nerve to close with a final round 68 to post a winning total of seven-under-par 277 and become the first German to win a women’s Major.
Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura produced her best-ever Major display to finish runner-up on five-under-par, with Minjee Lee from Australia third on three-under-par and 2015 champion Inbee Park in fourth place on one-under after a superb closing 66.
Popov’s win was made all the more incredible by the fact that she only qualified for the AIG Women’s Open via the Marathon Classic two weeks ago. She also revealed that she had to struggle with Lyme Disease which at one stage threatened to derail her career.
“My rookie year, I started having a lot of health issues and honestly we didn’t even know what it was. It took a total of about 20 doctor visits three years later to figure out that I had Lyme Disease,” she shared.
“At that point it was so chronic that I had just been struggling a lot with fatigue and, honestly, I had like 10 different symptoms and it was just very, it was a tough time to go through just because I didn’t know what it was, and it took so long to pinpoint exactly what was going on,” added Popov, whose three prior professional wins came on the third-tier Cactus Tour in the USA earlier this year.
Popov revealed that she lost 25 pounds due to the disease and had to work hard to regain her strength and stamina. “I’m very disciplined as far as my health and my nutrition goes, working out and doing everything in my power to have as little as possible symptoms. I have it under control really well. I want to keep it that way,” she said.
An emotional Popov, whose previous appearance in the AIG Women’s Open was as an amateur in 2011, said of her brilliant win: “I knew my game was in really good shape. I know anything’s possible and I think I took that belief with me to every round, but I never expected this. Obviously, I was nervous the whole round and I’m just so glad I could get it done.
“I guess it is an incredible story and I think, just personally for me, that’s why I broke down on the 18th hole because it’s been something I couldn’t have dreamed of just a week ago.”
After a challenging week of wet and windy conditions at the first women’s Major of the year, Popov came out on top of a strong field representing 32 countries and featuring Major champions, Solheim Cup stars and home favourites.
During an entertaining duel on the front nine, it looked like Suwannapura was going to push Popov all the way. The German bogeyed the opening hole to immediately give the field hope yet responded with back-to-back birdies to extend her lead to four. Suwannapura went on a brilliant run of four birdies from the 4th to close the gap to just a shot, but again Popov hit back with a birdie at the 6th.
Suwannapura faltered with dropped shots at the 11th and 13th on her way to a fine 67 and when Popov found birdies at the 15th and 16th, she was able to cruise to victory before breaking down in tears after her final bogey putt dropped.
Popov, who was caddying for her close friend Anne van Dam at the LPGA’s recent Drive On Championship, noted: “The last two holes, I could take it in a little bit and I looked around and it’s just so beautiful, such an amazing course. I grew up playing the Women’s Amateur, the Girls’ Amateur and I honestly like the weather, except for I get really cold.
“Considering everything we have to deal with right now with Covid-19, the way we were taken care of was just incredible, and I want to say ‘thank you’ for that. We’ve been extremely privileged.”
Lee, the world number eight, was unable to make a sustained challenge, highlighting her round with an incredible up-and-down for par at the short 8th, the Postage Stamp, as she closed with a 69 for a three-under total.
The AIG Women’s Open made its debut on the historic links of Royal Troon, which has hosted The Open on nine occasions, most recently in 2016 when Sweden’s Henrik Stenson triumphed.
