Germany’s Popov has the edge at Troon after her bogey-free display
Germany’s world No. 304 Sophia Popov will take a three-shot lead into today’s final round of the AIG Women’s Open after a flawless 67 yesterday.
Popov, who qualified for the event just a fortnight ago, was the only player not to drop a shot in the third round at Royal Troon as she moved to four-under with an eagle and two birdies.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, the world No. 8 chasing her first major win, and Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura were in a tie for second at one-under.
They were the only three players under par. Americans Lindsey Weaver and Austin Ernst, and another German in Caroline Masson, were the next best in a tie for fourth on one over.
The day belonged to 27-year-old Popov, who was not playing but caddying for friend Anne van Dam when the LPGA Tour resumed after the coronavirus stoppage last month.
It then took a top-10 finish at the recent Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio for her to qualify for the British Open for the first time since 2011.
Popov moved to the top of the leaderboard with an eagle three at the fourth and picked up two further strokes on the back nine.
Popov said: “Four-under, and bogey free, was more than I could have hoped for and makes me extremely happy.
“Honestly, at the beginning of the day, I said if I could keep it together and play a solid round, around even par, (I’d be satisfied). Conditions were definitely better than the first two days but they still weren’t easy.”
Popov admitted sleeping on such a lead would not be easy.
She said: “I’d be playing if I said I wasn’t going to be super-nervous, but I’ll try to keep the nerves to a minimum. I’ll try not to check my phone. Please nobody text me!”
Lee, who briefly led after backto-back birdies at the third and fourth, is also firmly in contention. She gave a shot back at the 12th but birdied 13 on her way to a 69.
Suwannapura picked up four birdies and was within one of Popov for most of her round but bogeys at the 15th and 18th were costly.
Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko had some bright moments with four birdies but five dropped shots in her 72, ending six shots back on two-over.
American Kristen Gillman was also two over after a three-underpar 68 that promised to be even better during a blistering front nine.
Gillman birdied five of the opening eight holes and was inches away from recording a hole-in-one at the Postage Stamp, Troon’s famous eighth hole.
Overnight leader Dani Holmqvist, the only player under par after two rounds, fell away badly with a 77. She started steadily with seven successive pars but then bogeyed seven of her last 11.
Inbee Park birdied three of the opening eight holes to force herself into the picture but a double bogey on the ninth and another dropped shot on the last left her where she began the day, on four-over.
England’s Mel Reid, who needed a birdie on the 18th to make the cut on Friday, shot 68 to climb to six-over-par but Europe’s Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew dropped to eight-over with a 74.
Wales’ Becky Morgan dropped four shots in as many holes on the back nine, including a double bogey on the 17th, also to end the day on eight-over after carding a 74.
England’s Bronte Law was a shot further back on nine over after a 72, while 2018 winner Georgia Hall, despite three birdies on the front nine, slipped back to 10-over with a round of 74.