As if her major-championship performance at the AIG Women’s Open was not extraordinary enough, Sophia Popov also set a record at Royal Troon, jumping 280 spots in the Rolex Rankings from 304 to 24. It is the largest single-week jump for a player in history.

Popov was also the lowest-ranked player ever to win a major championship, and it wasn’t really close. Anna Nordqvist sat at No. 214 in the Rolex Rankings when she won the 2009 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Hannah Green was ranked 114^th when she won that same event in 2019.

The lowest-ranked player to win the AIG Women’s Open before Popov was Mo Martin, who was ranked 99^th in the world when she won at Royal Birkdale in 2014.

Popov, who did not have status on the LPGA Tour prior to her victory, was 204 spots below the next non-member to win a major. That was Hinako Shibuno, who won the AIG Women’s Open in 2019 at Woburn in her first professional start outside her native Japan.

An historic feat, indeed.

Lowest-Ranked Player to Win an LPGA Tour Major Championship

Rolex Rankings Since 2006

Player	Tournament	Rank
Sophia Popov*	2020 AIG Women's Open	304
Anna Nordqvist	2009 KPMG Women's PGA Championship	214
Hannah Green	2019 KPMG Women's PGA Championship	114
Se Ri Pak	2006 KPMG Women's PGA Championship	110
Mo Martin	2014 AIG Women's Open	99

* As a non-member

Lowest-Ranked Non-Member to Win an LPGA Tour Major Championship

Rolex Rankings Since 2006

Player	Tournament	Rank
Sophia Popov	2020 AIG Women's Open	304
Hinako Shibuno	2019 AIG Women's Open	46
So Yeon Ryu	2011 U.S. Women's Open	40
In Gee Chun	2015 U.S. Women's Open	20
Hyo Joo Kim	2014 The Evian Championship	20
Jiyai Shin	2008 AIG Women's Open	10

Popov Makes Biggest Move In History Of Rolex Rankings

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