The Golf Gods Are Rewarding This Former LPGA Major Champion

It had been a frustrating start to the 2025 season for Sophia Popov. The 2020 AIG Women's Open Champion has had a rather rocky return to competition after having her daughter Maya in June 2023.

Per the LPGA's maternity leave policy, players can take maternity leave in the year their child is born or the year after. They can return to playing within two years of the baby's birth, returning to the same status they had before taking leave.

In 2024, Popov competed in 17 events and finished 136th on the CME points list (CME points function similarly to FedEx points of the PGA TOUR). Players who finish in the top 100 on the CME points list at the end of the season are guaranteed to retain their LPGA cards for the following season. Those outside of the top 100 will need to compete in Q School to better their status—which Popov did.

In December, she played in the final stage of LPGA Q-School and finished T-58th, failing to improve her status. The top-25 earn LPGA status, while those who don't make the top-25 will earn full Epson Tour status.

But there was an error.

Popov was listed as 57th on the LPGA Priority List (the list which determines how fields are filled) to start the season with a double asterisk by her name recognizing her maternity leave. Being listed as 57th meant that she would earn a specific category of status, allowing her entry into tournament fields that she technically had not qualified to play for.

Earlier this year, Golfweek reported that in January Popov suspected that her listing number was incorrect and asked the LPGA to clarify her status. They did, and said that she was good to go.

But as it turns out, the 32-year-old was incorrectly placed in the highest category on the LPGA Priority List, meaning she had full playing status and the major champion competed in three tournaments for which she was not otherwise qualified: Founders Cup, Honda LPGA Thailand and HSBC Women's World Championship (both the Honda and HSBC are limited-player fields with no cut).

Weeks later in March, the LPGA issued a memo to the players pointing out this error and in order to correct it, Popov's CME points, earnings, and Aon Risk Reward Challenge points were removed from official standings. Popov was also moved to the correct position on the Priority List, where she now sits at 371st.

Though the right thing to do to ensure the those who should have been playing would be rectified, it's still a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, especially Popov.

But wrongs have a way of being undone and made right. On Mother's Day Sunday, in front of her friends and family, Popov won the Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic, an Epson Tour event, getting herself back in the winner's circle.

A few weeks ago, the German golfer and former USC Trojan competed at the JM Eagle LA Championship on a sponsor exemption, and was asked about how the start to the season has impacted her and how she plans on moving forward. To which Popov responded, "Good golf takes care of everything. I think that's just my mindset now."

Her status as AIG Open champion grants her unlimited exemptions into the AIG, and five-year exemptions into the other four LPGA majors. The last time she had to compete on the Epson Tour, she became a major winner nearly five years ago—with her game (and luck) trending upward—can history repeat itself?