Sophia Popov's LPGA points were unjustly stripped

Sophia Popov, the 2020 AIG Women’s Open champion, has faced a setback after an administrative error by the LPGA. In January, she reached out to the organization for clarification regarding her status after returning from medical and maternity leave. The LPGA confirmed her priority number was correct, allowing her to compete. However, two days ago, Popov learned that due to an error, she had been listed incorrectly on the 2025 Priority List. As a result, she lost all the CME points she earned this year. These points are crucial for determining a player's status on the tour. The mistake meant Popov was able to participate in three tournaments – the Founders Cup, Honda LPGA Thailand, and HSBC Women's World Championship – without being qualified. Popov expressed her frustration, stating, “I specifically reached out to clarify my status situation.” The LPGA informed players that to correct the error, her points and earnings would be removed from the standings. As a consequence, her priority number dropped significantly. She now falls into a lower category, limiting her opportunities on the tour. Despite the challenges, Popov remains exempt from all majors this year due to her past win. Meanwhile, three players are said to have been adversely affected by this error, missing out on guaranteed points and tournament slots. The LPGA is working on a solution to help the impacted athletes and has apologized for the mistake.