Sophia Popov Snubbed Again After Women's Open Victory

The German has not been invited into this week's Tour Championship despite victory at the Women's Open this year

Sophia Popov Snubbed Again
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The German has not been invited into this week's Tour Championship despite victory at the Women's Open this year

Sophia Popov Snubbed Again After Women's Open Victory

Sophia Popov was denied entry into this year's ANA Inspiration, the second women's Major of 2020, despite winning the Women's Open at Royal Troon.

That caused a storm on social media and eventually led to LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan doubling-down on the ruling, saying that "it’s the regulation we started the season with,” and “it’s what we’ll finish the season with.”

Popov was not exempt for the ANA Inspiration as she wasn't a member of the LPGA Tour at the time of her victory.

Sadly for her, she has once again been snubbed as she has not made the field for this week's Tour Championship at Tiburon GC in Naples, Florida...despite winning a Major this year.

Popov would rank 16th in the standings if she was allowed to earn points for her Major win, but instead is down in 82nd.

The CME Tour Championship field is 72, with the top 70 in the standings joined by two sponsors invitations.

Now you would think that Popov would have earned a sponsor's invite, however they have gone to Natalie Gulbis and Sarah Kemp.

“It’s a fairness thing as far as playing ability,” Popov told Golfweek.

“It’s not like I haven’t earned it. It’s like I have earned it points-wise, technically.”

Popov wrote on Twitter: "Wish I could have played my hometown event this week."

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The German has made seven consecutive cuts since her victory at Troon and currently ranks 26th in the world.

US Women's Open champion A Lim Kim has also missed out as she was not an LPGA Tour member prior to her victory last week.

The CME Tour Championship features the largest first-place cheque in women's golf at $1.1m and a total purse of $3m.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV