Troon (United Kingdom) (AFP)

History: Sophia Popov, 304th player in the world, won the first title of her career on Sunday by winning the British Open, becoming the first German to win a Grand Slam title on the women's golf circuit.

She wanted to quit golf a year ago. Today she is at the top: Popov lives a fairy tale after returning a card of 68, three hits under the par, on the last lap for a total of 277 (-7).

On the historic Royal Troon Golf Club, facing the Firth of Clyde Bay in Scotland, the German beat Thailand's Jasmine Suwannapura by two and Australian Minjee Lee by three.

Even before hitting his last putt, Popov was in tears, overcome with the emotion of the improbable feat.

"I have a hard time expressing anything. I almost stopped everything last year, thank God I didn't," Popov responded, clutching the trophy.

“I was so nervous today (Sunday) and it's just amazing. I had to face a lot of obstacles on my course, but I knew what I was capable of,” she said. declared.

- Max, the little caddy friend -

The player also had a thought for her companion Max who is also her caddy and who accompanied her on the course by carrying her bag this weekend: "I am so grateful, he managed to make me keep my calm".

Popov, who had never won a tournament on the LPGA circuit, had started the day badly with a bogey. But the German, who took the lead in the third round the day before, quickly recovered.

Before this magical day for her, her best result in a Grand Slam tournament was a 57th place at that same British Open in 2011.

The German had, however, behind her, the 27-year-old Thai Suwannapura, winner of two LPGA tournaments, and the 24-year-old Australian Minjee Lee, five LPGA titles to her credit.

As for the defending champion, the Japanese Hinako Shibuno, she did not pass the cut on Friday.

If she had amassed, in her entire career, only $ 108,000, the German neo-champion has just won, in one go, the loot of $ 675,000.

She joined the German golf pantheon of Bernhard Langer, winner of the Masters in 1985 and 1993, and Martin Kaymer, titled in 2010 on the PGA Championship and in 2014 at the US Open.

© 2020 AFP