Golf: 304th-ranked Sophia Popov wins Women's British Open for 1st major

Sophia Popov of Germany has won the women's British Open. Photo /AP

The first professional victory of Sophia Popov's career came at a major championship on Sunday when the 304th-ranked German won the Women's British Open at Royal Troon.

Popov recovered from a bogey on the first hole by making five birdies for a 3-under 68 in the final round, leaving her 7 under par overall and two strokes clear of Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand (67).

Kiwi Lydia Ko in a share of 14th after a final round two-over 73 saw her slip out of contention on the final day.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Popov tapped in a bogey putt at the last to complete one of the most unlikely wins in the tournament's history.

She lost her card on the LPGA Tour at the end of last year and only qualified for the British Open via a top-10 finish two weeks ago at the Marathon Classic, which she was playing only because higher-ranked players couldn't attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This was just Popov's fourth appearance at a major.

The winner's check of $675,000 is more than six times her entire career earnings before Sunday. And just three weeks ago, Popov was ranked No. 390 and pushing a trolley for her best friend, Anne van Dam, at the Drive On Championship in the LPGA's restart.

She didn't play like a massive outsider this week, especially on Sunday — the biggest day of her career by far.

Starting out with a three-stroke lead, Popov drove into a bunker on No. 1 and pushed a 10-foot par putt right. She barely made a mistake after that.

Popov pumped her fist after rolling in a birdie putt from 8 feet at the second hole, then made another from a similar distance at No. 3.

Suwannapura, who would also have been an improbable winner with a ranking of No. 138, made four straight birdies from No. 4 to move within one stroke of the lead but it was the closest she came.

Birdies by Popov at Nos. 15 and 16 were greeted with furious fist pumps and left her on the brink. She held her nerve on the final two holes, parring No. 17 and then playing No. 18 cautiously to leave herself three putts to be champion.

After rolling a par putt within a feet of the cup, she marked her ball and started to cry. Within a minute, she had become the first female player from Germany to win a major title.

It was the second straight upset win at the Women's British Open. Last year, 20-year-old Japanese player Hinako Shibuno triumphed when playing her first event outside Japan.

This was the first women's major of a pandemic-disrupted year. It was played without spectators at Troon because of coronavirus restrictions.