NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – When Sophia Popov teed off Tuesday morning at Aronimink Golf Club wearing mittens and a beanie, it felt for a moment like she was back at Royal Troon.
“Except for the fact that I was hitting 3-hybrids into every green,” she said, smiling.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marks Popov’s first major since she shocked the golf world in August at the AIG Women’s British Open. There are times when she looks at the amount of money that’s now in her bank account and gets the feeling that something illegal happened there.
“I still look at it and I go, ‘Oh my,’ ” she said of the $675,000 payday.
As for big purchases, Popov said she bought a TrackMan, something she’d long wanted but couldn’t afford. She’s not much of a shopper or a spender, putting half of it away and setting aside more for taxes.
“German people save all their money,” she said, “and then one day they pass it on to their kids or something. That’s probably what’s going to end up happening.”
On the morning after she won, Popov said she had more than 400 text messages and still has about 90 left to reply to. In all, a good 600 written well wishes rolled in on various platforms.
“If you’re in the 90,” she said, “I’m sorry.”
Popov has competed twice on the LPGA since winning the AIG, finishing tied for 24th at the Cambia Portland Classic and T-43 last week at the ShopRite, where she was mic’d up early in the week.
The outgoing Popov has enjoyed the media attention, hoping to one day have a career in television. She worked for a German television station during the 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany and had several internships while majoring in communications at USC.
While so many shy away from the spotlight, Popov truly shines in it.
The confidence that Popov feels naturally off the golf course has transferred to inside the ropes after her victory at Troon. There’s a sense of belonging now on the LPGA, like she could be in the mix any given week.
Even so, the magnitude of what she accomplished still hasn’t quite sunk in. Eventually it will, she said, but not this year.
“I mean, this is just my birthday present,” she said, “my Christmas present, everything to myself.”
Champions on both the men’s and women’s side advised her to take the time to soak it all in. As time goes on, many told her, it’s easy to constantly look ahead and forget what’s in the past.
Since she wasn’t in the field in Arkansas or the ANA Inspiration, Popov had three weeks to celebrate with family and friends.
“It’s been crazy,” she said, “… probably the coolest five weeks of my life.”
[lawrence-related id=778065077,778063581,778062905]