'AIG Women's Open Champ' Popov's Life Turnaround "Lyme Disease Overcoming Drama"

After Revealing Battle Since 2015 Outbreak, Mini Tour and Caddy Life, Cheers for 800 Million Won Jackpot Six Times Lifetime Earnings

Sophia Popov is shedding tears at the moment her victory at the final day of the AIG Women's Open is confirmed. Photo by LPGA Tour official website

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "A life turnaround drama overcoming Lyme disease."

This is the story of Sophia Popov (Germany), the 'AIG Women's Open Champion.' In the early morning of the 24th (Korean time), she won the LPGA Tour AIG Women's Open (total prize money $4.5 million) held at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland (par 71, 6,649 yards), causing an upset as the first German national player to win an LPGA Tour major. She cheered, "A situation I couldn't have dreamed of just a week ago," and "It's truly unbelievable."

Right after her victory, Popov revealed her battle with illness during her rookie years. She debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2015 but lost more than 11 kg and visited about twenty hospitals. It took three years before she was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. The cause is infection by the Borrelia bacteria transmitted by ticks. Initially, symptoms resemble the flu, but if worsened, the bacteria spread through the bloodstream to other parts, causing arthritis, heart disease, and neurological abnormalities.

In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis, myelitis, and arrhythmia. It is also known that Popov experienced digestive system problems. She confessed, "In severe cases, I had up to ten symptoms," and "Because I didn't know the exact disease, I had to endure difficult times, and in fact, I am still managing it." Popov's world ranking is 304th. She is the lowest-ranked major champion since the world rankings were introduced in 2006.

The previous record was 114th by Hannah Green (Australia) when she won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship last year. Popov ranked 173rd in the money list last year, losing her tour card, and is currently playing on the Symetra (second-tier) Tour. Her only victory this year was three wins in mini-tours in the first half of the year. Last month, she served as a caddie for Anne van Dam (Netherlands) at the Drive On Championship. She said, "There have been difficulties over the past six years," and "I even thought about retiring last year."

She also earned her spot in this tournament dramatically. Due to many withdrawals from the Marathon Classic caused by COVID-19, she participated and finished 9th. She smiled brightly, saying, "The AIG Women's Open feels like a special bonus to me," and "I came to the tournament venue two days before the opening, and although I had good shot feel and confidence, I did not expect to win." The winner's prize money is $675,000 (about 800 million KRW), six times the $108,051 (about 130 million KRW) she had earned in her lifetime.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.