Sophia Popov Bio
Sophia Popov is a German professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. Born on 2 October 1992 in Boston, Massachusetts, she moved to Germany with her family when she was four years old and holds dual United States and German citizenship. Popov came to international attention in 2020 when she won the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon, one of the major championships in women’s golf. She continues to compete at the top level of the LPGA Tour and represents Germany in major team competitions.
Early Life and Background
Sophia Popov was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 2 October 1992. Her family relocated to Germany when she was four, and she was raised there while maintaining ties to the United States through her dual citizenship. Her paternal grandparents are Bulgarian, giving the family a broader European heritage that has shaped her international outlook.
Growing up in Germany, Popov was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the sport. She trained within the German amateur system and earned selection to several notable junior and amateur teams, including the Junior Solheim Cup and the Espirito Santo Trophy sides. These early international appearances gave her valuable experience competing against many of the top amateur players in the world.
Path to Professional Golf
Popov played college golf at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she developed her game against some of the strongest amateur competition in the United States. In 2010, she won the International European Ladies Amateur Championship, establishing herself as one of the leading amateur players in Europe. Her amateur resume also included appearances in the Junior Solheim Cup and the Espirito Santo Trophy.
After completing her time at USC, Popov turned professional in 2014 and began the long road toward the LPGA Tour. In 2015, she joined the German television broadcast team covering the Solheim Cup, gaining further insight into the professional game. By 2016, she had begun playing on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental circuit of the LPGA, where she would spend the next several seasons refining her skills.
Sophia Popov Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Following her decision to turn professional in 2014, Popov began her career working her way up through developmental tours. From 2016 through 2020 she competed on the Symetra Tour, where she recorded four runner-up finishes, including the 2016 Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial, the 2016 Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic, the 2017 Tullymore Classic, and the 2020 Founders Tribute at Longbow. These near-misses demonstrated her consistency and her ability to compete at a high level week after week.
During this period, Popov also earned opportunities to test herself against the world’s best players. In 2016, she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle, where she made the cut. Two years later, she played in the Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes, finishing tied for 57th. These major-championship experiences provided crucial learning opportunities and helped prepare her for the breakthrough that would come in 2020.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2019–2020)
In February 2019, Popov came within a single stroke of earning full LPGA Tour status through the LPGA Qualifying School. The narrow miss motivated her heading into the following season, when the LPGA and Symetra Tours were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited playing options, she traveled to Arizona and won three events on the Cactus Tour, a mini-tour based in the state.
The defining moment of her career came in August 2020 at Royal Troon, where Popov won the AIG Women’s Open, a major championship co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. She had qualified for the championship by virtue of a strong finish at the Marathon Classic earlier in the season. Going into the Women’s Open, Popov was ranked 304th in the world, making her victory one of the most remarkable stories in recent major-championship history.
Continued LPGA Career (2021–Present)
Following her major-championship victory, Popov earned full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour. She has continued to compete on the world’s premier women’s golf circuit, representing Germany in team events and contending in major championships. Her victory at the AIG Women’s Open remains the centerpiece of her professional resume and the result that established her as a major champion.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon stands as the signature achievement of Sophia Popov’s career. Entering the week ranked 304th in the world, she produced four composed rounds to claim the title, a remarkable underdog story that resonated across the golf world. The win also secured her LPGA Tour card and confirmed her status as a major champion.
Sophia Popov Career Wins
Sophia Popov’s professional victory total includes wins on the Cactus Tour and a major-championship triumph on the LPGA Tour. Her career win at the AIG Women’s Open in 2020 is the most significant, while her three Cactus Tour victories earlier that same year helped build the form and confidence that carried her to Royal Troon.
LPGA Tour and Major Highlights
Popov’s lone LPGA Tour victory came at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon, a major championship co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour. The win was particularly dramatic given that she entered the tournament ranked 304th in the world and had qualified only through a strong finish at the Marathon Classic.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in 2020, Popov won three times on the Cactus Tour in Arizona, a mini-tour that provided competitive opportunities during the pandemic-affected schedule. Those victories helped sharpen her game ahead of her major-championship breakthrough at Royal Troon later that summer.
Sophia Popov Family
Family Background and Heritage
Sophia Popov’s family moved from the United States to Germany when she was four years old, and she holds dual American and German citizenship. Her paternal grandparents are Bulgarian, reflecting the broader European roots that connect her to the international golf community. She was raised in Germany, where she developed her game as a young golfer before heading to the University of Southern California.
Personal Life
Sophia Popov is married to Max Mehles, who has been a steady presence throughout her professional career. On 11 June 2023, she and her husband announced the birth of their daughter. The family resides in Weingarten, Germany, and continues to be part of Popov’s support system as she competes on the LPGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Sophia Popov entered the 2025 LPGA Tour season looking to build on her major-championship pedigree and re-establish herself among the tour’s consistent contenders. Following her 2020 AIG Women’s Open victory and her transition into motherhood in 2023, her schedule in recent seasons has reflected a careful balance between competition and family. The 2025 campaign represents an opportunity to chase additional victories and contend in the major championships.
As a major champion and seasoned LPGA Tour competitor, Popov continues to draw on the resilience that defined her Royal Troon breakthrough. Her experience in pressure situations, combined with her comfort on links-style courses, makes her a threat in the AIG Women’s Open and other marquee events each season. With her game and confidence trending upward, Popov remains focused on climbing back into the upper echelon of the Rolex Rankings.
Looking ahead through the remainder of the 2025 season, Popov’s priorities include strong performances in the major championships and a return to the winner’s circle on the LPGA Tour. Her dual-citizenship status and international background continue to make her a respected figure in both the European and American women’s golf communities.