Teamwork
Sophia Popov caddies husband to medalist honors at U.S. Open qualifying
Sophia Popov is best known for being one of the most improbable major champions in golf history. This week, however, her focus was on helping her husband get into his first major.
So far, so good. Popov caddied for Maximilian Mehles at a U.S. Open local qualifier at Andalusia Country Club in La Quinta on Tuesday. And not only did Mehles advance, he earned medalist honors by shooting a bogey-free 66.
This isn't the first time this dynamic duo has lifted some hardware together. It was Mehles who looped for Popov when she pulled off an all-time upset by winning the 2020 AIG British Open when she wasn't even a member of the LPGA at the time.
Just weeks before her big triumph, Popov had caddied for Anne van Dam in an LPGA event. So this wasn't her first time carrying a bag for another player.
"I'm killing it," Popov joked to Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols about her caddieing skills. "I'm almost thinking about switching careers right now."
But it will be tricky for Popov to continue on Mehles' bag with the May 23 sectional qualifier being the same week as the LPGA Bank of Hope Match Play, an event Popov hopes to qualify for.
"For me, it's going to be a really hard decision," she told Nichols.
Either way, if Mehles does advance, this golf power couple will have plenty to celebrate at home.