“PRO” File – Touring Professional Sofia Popov

“A former caddie, about to become the Masters champion.” Those famous words were uttered by Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler in the golf movie classic “Caddyshack.” A real-life version recently happened when Sofia Popov captured the AIG Ladies Open at Royal Troon in Scotland. She caddied just two weeks prior in an LPGA event in Toledo, Ohio, for Ann van Dam. The following week, Povpov, a Symetra Tour player, got into the LPGA tournament when it needed additional players to fill the field, and the LPGA Tour turned to the Symetra Tour, its developmental tour. Popov finished in the top 10 at that event, earning a spot at Troon. A minor league player coming out of nowhere to win a major championship simply isn’t heard of in men’s golf, but last year Nasa Hataoka basically pulled off the same feat as Popov when she also won the Women’s Open. Popov is considered German although she was born in the United States. She now has status on the LPGA Tour and it’s safe to say her caddie days are behind her.