TROON, Scotland — Sophia Popov marked her ball a few inches from the hole on the 18th green, pulled the brim of her cap over her face and began to cry in the arms of her caddie. Against all odds, she was about to become a major champion. Moments later and still wiping away tears, she tapped in the putt to complete a two-stroke victory at Royal Troon and another fairy-tale story at the Women’s British Open. 304, Popov had never won a senior professional event. And as she would later reveal in public for the first time, she has been bothered by health issues for the past six years, notably Lyme disease.

Source: New York Times August 23, 2020 17:37 UTC