Sophia Popov Bio
Sophia Popov is a German professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. Born on October 2, 1992, in Boston, Massachusetts, she moved to Germany with her family when she was four years old, and she holds dual citizenship in the United States and Germany. After a strong amateur career at the University of Southern California, Popov turned professional in 2014 and is best known for winning the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. She currently lives in Weingarten, Germany, with her husband and daughter.
Early Life and Background
Sophia Popov was born on October 2, 1992, in Boston, Massachusetts. When she was four years old, her family relocated to Germany, where she was largely raised. Because of her American birth and German upbringing, Popov grew up with dual United States and German citizenship, and her paternal grandparents are of Bulgarian heritage.
She was introduced to golf at a young age in Germany and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Her family supported her early training, and she spent time in both the United States and Europe as she moved through the junior ranks. Her multicultural background later helped her transition comfortably between tours on both sides of the Atlantic.
Path to Professional Golf
Popov played college golf at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she sharpened her competitive game against some of the top amateur players in the country. During her amateur career, she won the 2010 International European Ladies Amateur Championship, a respected title on the international amateur circuit. She also represented Europe in the Junior Solheim Cup and played in the Espirito Santo Trophy, two of the most prestigious team events in amateur golf.
Those experiences against top-tier competition prepared her for the next step. In 2014, Sophia Popov turned professional and began the climb toward a full-time place on a major tour. Her early professional years were spent gaining experience on developmental circuits, building the consistency needed to compete week after week against established players.
Sophia Popov Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Popov’s professional journey began with a unique off-course experience in 2015, when she was part of the German television broadcast team covering the Solheim Cup. That same year, she began chasing status on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental circuit of the LPGA. Between 2016 and 2020, she posted four runner-up finishes on the Symetra Tour, 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.
She also gained valuable major-championship exposure during this period. In 2016, Popov qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle, where she finished last among those who made the cut. In 2018, she played in the Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes and finished tied for 57th. These appearances helped her learn how to handle the biggest stages in women’s golf.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2019–2020)
In February 2019, Popov came within a single stroke of earning her LPGA Tour card for the 2019 season through the LPGA Qualifying School. The near-miss only sharpened her focus. In 2020, with both the LPGA Tour and Symetra Tour disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned to the Cactus Tour, a mini-tour based in Arizona, and won three events in a short stretch to keep her game sharp.
That summer, Popov qualified for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon by posting a high finish at the Marathon Classic. Few expected her to contend, as she was ranked 304th in the world heading into the championship. Popov played the week of her life in Scotland, capturing the title in dominant fashion and announcing herself as a major champion on the LPGA Tour. The victory was co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, marking her first professional win on either circuit and one of the most remarkable stories in recent women’s golf.
Continued LPGA Career (2021–Present)
Following her Women’s Open triumph, Popov has remained a steady presence on the LPGA Tour. She has continued to compete in major championships, recording a tied for 23rd finish at the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship, a tied for 60th at the 2021 Evian Championship, a tied for 26th at the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open, and a tied for 30th at the 2025 Chevron Championship. These results underline her consistency in the biggest events on the women’s calendar.
She has also added to her professional win total, which now stands at five, with one LPGA Tour victory, one Ladies European Tour victory, one Epson Tour victory, and three other professional wins. Popov has spoken openly about the mental side of professional golf and continues to draw on her journey from outside the top 300 in the world to major champion as motivation for the years ahead.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Sophia Popov’s career remains her victory at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. Entering the week ranked 304th in the world, she produced four composed rounds on a difficult links course to claim her first major title and her first LPGA Tour win. The triumph is widely regarded as one of the most surprising major-championship wins in recent LPGA history and cemented her place among the tour’s major champions.
Sophia Popov Career Wins
Across her professional career, Sophia Popov has recorded five professional victories. Her breakthrough came in 2020 with three wins on the Cactus Tour, followed shortly by her major-championship victory at the AIG Women’s Open, which she shares between the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. She has also posted one win on the Epson Tour, the developmental pathway of the LPGA.
Major Championship Highlights
Popov’s lone major title came at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon, co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. She has since made the cut in several other majors, including the Women’s PGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, and the Evian Championship, demonstrating her ability to compete across the full set of women’s major championships.
Sophia Popov Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Sophia Popov is married to Max Mehles, her long-time partner. On June 11, 2023, she and Mehles announced the birth of their daughter, adding a new chapter to their family life. The couple has been supportive of one another’s careers, with Mehles frequently seen walking alongside Popov on tour.
Popov holds dual United States and German citizenship. Her paternal grandparents are Bulgarian, giving the family a multi-generational European connection. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and now resides in Weingarten, Germany, where she spends time when not competing on the LPGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 LPGA Tour season has seen Sophia Popov continue her role as a respected major champion in the women’s game. Her season began with a tied for 30th finish at the Chevron Championship, a strong early-season result at one of the five major championships. She has remained a regular presence in the field, drawing on the experience gained from her 2020 breakthrough and her years of steady play on both the Epson Tour and the LPGA Tour.
Popov has also balanced her competitive schedule with her role as a mother following the 2023 birth of her daughter. Managing tournament weeks, travel, and family life has become part of her weekly routine, and she has spoken about the importance of perspective in professional sport. With several events still ahead on the 2025 calendar, she is positioned to chase further top finishes and potentially add to her five professional wins.