[Photos: Thomas Lovelock]
Fifa Laopakdee conceded his rare, repeat victory at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship meant more than the Thai golfer’s maiden triumph a year ago in Dubai.
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Not because this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur was held on the South course at the world-renowned Te Arai Links, a rugged and beautiful coastal layout along New Zealand’s North Island. And not just because, as the champion, he will be invited back to Augusta National for the 2027 Masters as well as being exempt into the 155th Open Championship at St Andrews.
Although both certainly helped.
Laopakdee’s victory was more meaningful because he overcame a lacklustre year in American college golf to become just the second golfer since Hideki Matsuyama to win successive titles at the Asia-Pacific – an event created in 2009 and co-organised by Augusta National, the R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation.
“I feel like I’m more proud of myself this year because I never stopped believing in myself, even though I had a tough year,” Laopakdee said after carding a one-under 70 in the final round at Te Arai for a six-under-par 278 total and a three-shot win over New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick. Australia’s Kayun Mudadana finished third at two-under.
After a victory at the Desimone Invitational in March, the 21-year-old Laopakdee struggled in his college golf events while balancing starts at the Masters and The Open, where he was unable to make the cut in either.
“I literally didn’t win a single thing since March, [but] I just keep telling myself that I’ve still got it,” he said.
Laopakdee certainly had it in the first and final rounds at Te Arai, where he opened the week with a 63 and, when two shots behind after 10 holes on the final day, found two birdies in the closing eight while the field stumbled.
At the par-4 11th, Laopakdee was two shots behind 54-hole leader Swanwick, whose approach shot found a greenside bunker and led to a triple-bogey. Laopakdee birdied the hole to produce a crucial four-shot swing.
“It was a huge momentum shift, that’s for sure,” Laopakdee said. “My hand was shaking right after the putt, since I know that I’m a leader.”
Swanwick carded a 75 to finish runner up at three-under (281), while Sydneysider Mudadana posted a 67 to grab third place, a shot further adrift (282).
That allowed Laopakdee to make five steady pars from the 12th before knocking his tee shot at the stunning par-3 17th to close range for a birdie. A par at the par-5 18th gave Laopakdee his slice of Asia-Pacific history alongside 2010 and 2011 winner Matsuyama, who went on to win the 2021 Masters.
“Yeah, it’s always in my radar to do what he did; that feels amazing to join the club,” Laopakdee said. “Hideki has played a huge part in golf for Japan, and also Asia. He’s a great player. I hope to follow in his footsteps.”
Laopakdee said he will be more mentally prepared for another two major championship starts after a year in which his results did not reflect the personal growth inside.
“I’m a lot more mature mentally,” Laopakdee reflected. “I didn’t play good golf the whole year. It’s been a big learning curve year for me. When you get to live like a real professional golfer’s life at the Masters and The Open, you share the same locker room, share the same dining hall, share the same practice round, you get to experience how those people live. I just learned from it and it made me a lot more mature, and I’ve started to read books now that help with my brain now. I love reading about golf psychology, like the Bob Rotella book.
“This morning, the whole week, when I had a late tee-time, I wake up, eat breakfast, go back to my room, read books, write down notes in my journal and try to find something that I can use on the course, and it worked out perfectly.”
Perfect is a fitting description for achieving another chance to compete in the Masters as an amateur – and an Open at the Old Course on golf’s most historic stage.
“This year, I was not that confident out there [at Augusta] compared to my roommates, but next year, I’ll definitely be a lot more calm and collected and keep my composure,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to both Augusta and St Andrews.”
