It was one for the books — an improbable victory, a stunning triumph, an outright miracle.
The winner of the 2020 Women’s British Open was ranked just 304thin the world. She was not even a member of the LPGA, the premier women’s tour. Only weeks before, she was languishing at the Symetra Tour and caddying for her best friend at an LPGA event.
Simply nobody gave her a chance to win the first major golf championship in the women’s circuit, which includes the U.S. Open, the Evian Championship, and the Ana Inspirational. Also, unknown to many, she was battling Lyme disease, a battle that had her thinking about quitting golf all together.
But in the span of a week, everything changed. She has joined the ranks of the unheralded who have made history and, in the process, created a compelling sports journey that is likely to be narrated in the years to come.
Unfortunately, her name is not Dottie Ardina of the Philippines. The winner of the Women’s British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland last Sunday is Sophia Popov of Germany.

We wish it was the 26-year-old Ardina, our local girl whom we had hoped out loud, in a recent piece, would defy the odds and become the first Filipino, male or female, to contend in a major championship.
Instead, it was the 27-year-old Popov who broke through. She produced a scintillating game worthy of a champion, defying odds and turbulent weather, and besting a slew of golfers with far more gravitas to win the first major by a German woman golfer.
Popov and Ardina share some history. Like Popov, Ardina also spent some years at the Symetra Tour where, despite her best efforts, she failed to win a single title. Like Popov, Ardina also missed membership in the LPGA by one stroke during Q-School. Like Popov, both are playing their first Open. Like Popov, Ardina earned her ticket after a strong finish at the Marathon Classic, an LPGA event, one week before.
Although Ardina did not contend, her British Open sojourn was not a waste. It was a learning experience.
She arrived in Scotland Tuesday, or just two days before the start of the tournament, following issues with her visa. Playing in a links course for the first time, Ardina had just one practice round prior to her Thursday tee off. She fired a seven over par 78, and was poised for an early exit.

But for a while during the first round, Ardina looked good. She shared the lead after four holes. After five holes, she was the solo leader at one under par. Alas, it didn’t last. By the time she was done with her first round, she had five bogeys, two double bogeys, and one birdie.
But just when nearly everyone following her journey thought she would soon pack her bags, Ardina produced her best game in the second round. She scored a two-over-par 73 under brutal weather, and made the cut on the number, which was nine over par.
That she made the cut is an achievement in itself. Her score of 73 in the second round was surpassed only by 11 others among the 70 playing the last two rounds.
To illustrate, among those who missed the cut were such luminaries as Lexi Thomson, defending champion Hinako Shibuno, Brooke Henderson, Stacy Lewis, Christie Kerr, and Charlie Hull, one of Britain’s top golfers.

Although Dottie scored even par 71 on the final day, it was too little, too late, and she ended up finishing tied for 64th among 74 players making the cut.
But the Filipina’s spirit was not diminished. “I like to challenge myself and test if I can play at the highest level,” Dottie said in an interview with Golf Tribune. “It was my first British Open, and I made the cut. Not bad.”
Yes, not at all.
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