After depositing the check for her $675,000 prize from winning the Women's British Open, golfer Sophia Popov couldn't help but think about "shady business."
Having competed in eight LPGA events in 2019 with just one cut, Popov reflected on her past five years and wondered if she was where she wanted to be. "I went to college in 2014 with the intent of doing something else after my golf career was over," she said. "Last year, it became quite realistic to consider other options, perhaps it's time for a change."
Popov lost her LPGA status in 2020, marking the first time since her qualification in 2015 that she had lost it completely. "That was quite a reality check: 'Okay, what's next? Let's go and do something.' How did I make that decision?" she wondered.
Then, everything changed. Popov, ranked 304th in the world, won the Women's British Open in August 2020.
"That's the biggest check I've ever received from a tournament," she thought as the money hit her bank account. "At first, I thought: 'Oh my god, illegal activity? What's going on? That can't be right.'"
But then she looked at the money and thought, "That's it, the six years you've put into this. It's not about trying to make a living at a tournament. That's what you've been working towards since college, even before then. All the work, all the effort you've put in through the years, just to reach this moment."
Lyme Disease Battle
Popov's biggest challenge in her golf career came in 2015 when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. The disease, which is transmitted through ticks, can result in fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fatigue, and rash. For Popov, symptoms included constant fatigue and mental exhaustion.
After years of searching for a diagnosis, Popov was finally told she had Lyme disease. With a determination to recover naturally, she researched alternative treatments and changed her diet to help heal her body. "I had to rely on my own research and visit several doctors, but for me, it was all about... I had to take six years of medication and eight surgeries, and I felt like I had to do it," she said.
Popov's performance on the golf course improved after her diagnosis and treatment, and she eventually regained her LPGA status. She won her first major championship in 2020, and her victory was a testament to her resilience and determination in overcoming adversity.
