Who is Sophia Popov?
She’s a 2020 major champion, but who is Sophia Popov? Check out our player profile to find out more about the German…
Sophia Popov is one of three German golfing major champions, having won the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon.
The German was actually born in Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to Germany when she was just 4. She remains a fan of the New England Patriots thanks to the first part of her upbringing. She returned to the States to play collegiate golf at the University of Southern California.
She graduated in 2014, but struggled through the early part of her professional career. She spent four seasons on the Symetra Tour, but could only manage a best of 2nd, which she did on four occasions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played on the Cactus Tour, and that was where she grabbed her first victory.
In 2020, she would win three times on the Cactus Tour, as well as claiming the biggest prize of her career to date. That came at Royal Troon. Popov was victorious at the AIG Women’s Open, securing her maiden major championship. She was ranked 304th in the world prior to the event, and became the first German female to win a major.
Sophia Popov | Player Profile
Personal Information
Name: Sophia Popov
Born: October 2, 1992
Nationality: Germany
Residence: Weingarten, Germany
Career
College: Southern California
Turned Pro: 2014
Professional Wins: 4
Highest World Ranking: 16 – May 24, 2021
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Chevron Championship – T44 (2022)
– Women’s PGA Championship – T23 (2020)
– US Women’s Open – T26 (2024)
– Amundi Evian Championship – T60 (2021)
– AIG Women’s Open – WON (2020)
Professional Wins – 4
2020 (4) – Cactus Tour Event 14, Cactus Tour Event 16, Cactus Tour Event 20, AIG Women’s Open
Sophia Popov | What’s In Her Bag?
The German is a Callaway staffer when it comes to her clubs. She plays the Epic Speed driver and Epic Flash fairway woods, along with a full set of X-Forged irons. A trio of Jaws MD5 wedges are joined by an Odyssey Stroke Lab putter. Popov uses the Titleist Pro V1.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sophia Popov
When and where was Sophia Popov born?
Sophia Popov was born in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1992, moving to Germany with her family when she was four years of age.
When did Sophia Popov turn professional?
Sophia Popov turned professional in 2014 after spending four years at the University of Southern California.
How many major titles has Sophia Popov won?
As of May 2024, Sophia Popov has one major championship to her name. She was victorious at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon, despite coming into the week ranked outside the world’s top 300.
Who is Sophia Popov married to?
Sophia Popov is married to Max Mehles – an amateur golfer who also played collegiate golf. The pair welcomed their first child in June 2023, with daughter Maya being born.
Did you Know?
All Wins In 2020
Incredibly, Popov’s ten-year professional career has only seen victories come in one year. All four of her wins as a pro came in 2020. Three of those were on the Cactus Tour, with the other coming on the grandest stage of them all – the AIG Women’s Open.
First German Major Champion
With that victory at the AIG Women’s Open in 2020, Popov made history. In doing so, she became the first German woman to win a major championship. She is only the third German in total, following Bernhard Langer and Martin Kaymer.
Major Ace
At the 2024 US Women’s Open, Popov made an ace in the opening round. She did so on the 205-yard par 3 8th hole at Lancaster Country Club, making just the 32nd hole-in-one in the tournament’s eight-decade history.
Other Sophia Popov Articles
Popov’s incredible rise to Women’s Open winner and DJ claims extraordinary win
From quitting golf to major champion: The ‘what if’ moment that changed Popov’s life
What have you made of Sophia Popov’s career to date? Can she win more majors? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
Matt Coles
Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…
Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.
He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.
Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…
Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.
