The 20-year-old golfer, Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee, overcame a six-stroke deficit by shooting a 4-under 68, which led to his victory over 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki from Japan in a three-hole playoff at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. This win secures his participation in both the Masters and Open Championship the following year.
Laopakdee, currently a junior at Arizona State, is now the first golfer from Thailand to claim the championship title since its inception in 2010. Furthermore, he will be the pioneering Thai amateur to compete in the prestigious Masters Tournament.
Laopakdee’s decisive shot involved a precise 6-iron that narrowly cleared the water hazard on the 18th hole of the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, landing just beyond the hazard line. This set up an easy approach and putt, marking his fifth consecutive birdie, starting from the 17th hole during regulation play.
He achieved birdies on five holes on the back nine — notably on the 17th and 18th — which were crucial in pushing him into the playoff round. In totality, Laopakdee finished the tournament strong, delivering five birdies in a row, including the last two holes of the standard round.
“It’s unreal, honestly,” Laopkadee commented post-victory. “I believe all the Thai supporters have waited a long time for a Thai amateur or professional to get the opportunity to compete at the Masters and The Open. This win will probably increase my Thai fan base significantly. My phone is probably full of texts from Thai fans at the moment. This is a big deal for me, my family, my supporters, and for my country.”
Nagasaki, who began the final round five strokes ahead of Rintaro Nakano, was neck-and-neck with Laopakdee after a two-stroke difference on the 15th. But the young Japanese player regained momentum with a birdie from 18 feet on the 16th, followed by an impressive drive on the accessible par-4 17th for another birdie, and a precise chip to within 4 feet on the par-5 final hole.
However, he narrowly missed the birdie putt that would have secured his win, ending with a 74 and tying with Laopakdee at 15-under 273. Laopakdee had to perform a skillful recovery from a back bunker to achieve birdies on the final two holes. His back nine score was 5-under 32.
“I wasn’t even aware that I shot 5-under par on the back nine until after I completed the 18th,” Laopakdee expressed. “It was incredible golf. Respect to Taisei. He really pushed me to my limits.”
The playoff continued with more remarkable plays — Nagasaki strategically laid up on the 18th and delicately chipped a wedge over the water to within 2 feet for a birdie, keeping him in contention after Laopakdee birdied from behind the green.
Laopakdee’s powerful drive allowed him to easily set up another approach and putt on the reachable 17th in the playoff, and Nagasaki mirrored his performance with another excellent pitch, leading to a birdie.
However, during the third playoff hole on the 18th, Nagasaki’s shot veered too far left of the green. His subsequent chip from a challenging lie was too heavy, leaving him a lengthy 35 feet from the hole. He then two-putted for par.
“I’m very disappointed,” Nagasaki conveyed through a translator, wiping away tears with his shirt. “I found it very difficult to score.”
Nakano ended with a 71, securing third place for the second consecutive year.
