Champion Banishes Demons to Follow Matsuyama’s Path

Auckland, New Zealand: In winning the 17th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee not only banished a few dark demons. He also took another step in following the path of Hideki Matsuyama, emulating the Japanese star’s achievement of claiming back-to-back successes in the AAC. 

Matsuyama won the first of his two AAC titles on home soil at Kasumigaseki Golf Club in 2010. A year later he retained the title at Singapore Island Country Club.

Since then, no one had managed to repeat that feat. Indeed, the only other two-time winner was China’s Lin Yuxin, who raised aloft the trophy in 2017 and 2019.

With his triumphs at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai last year and at Te Arai Links on Sunday, 21-year-old Thai standout Fifa is just the AAC’s third multiple champion.

“It means the whole world to me, as much as last year. Coming into this week, I wanted to win. Now I’ve managed to do it twice,” said the Arizona State University (ASU) Senior.

“It was always on my radar to do what he (Matsuyama) did. He was the only guy that was able to accomplish it. Getting my name back‑to‑back like him is quite special. It feels amazing to join the club. 

“I haven’t met him. I saw him at the Majors but I didn’t get to talk to him. Hideki has played a huge part in golf for Japan, and also Asia. Being able to win back‑to‑back like him is a huge honour. He’s a great player. I hope to follow in his footsteps.”

Those who witnessed the poise and power Fifa displayed in New Zealand believe he is on course to do just that.

Yet his journey has not been plain sailing. By his own admission, his form has been inconsistent this past year during which he’s had to battle numerous bouts of self-doubt.

Indeed, less than four weeks ago he was questioning his ability to perform at the highest level after two disappointing rounds at the Asian Games. His self-esteem was stung.

“When I played the Asian Games in Japan, after I played such a horrible round on the second and third round, I went back to my room and was trying to cry … but I couldn’t. I was in that dark place. I felt like I just wasn’t good enough,” he confided.

Turning to books about the mental side of the game proved important in improving his mindset. 

He said: “It was the books I started to read that helped me to get to where I am right now. I started to read books right after that (Asian Games). I knew I needed to find something new to stay out of my comfort zone and I learned from reading books. 

“I’m a lot more mature mentally. Reading books helped me a lot. Just learning from the mistakes I made this year. I didn’t play well all year. It’s been a big learning curve year for me. I’ve tried to learn as much as possible from what I did wrong. Being able to face those mistakes helped me this week.” 

So, too, did the unwavering support of friends, family and ASU team-mates and coaches. “They always believed in me and pushed me hard every day.”

Fifa’s mental fortitude shone through in the final round at Te Arai Links. Throughout the day he never lost control of his golf game or his emotions.

Fifa began the final round two shots behind New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick in joint second place with Cooper Moore, another Kiwi. Still two behind with eight holes remaining, he remained unflustered, no thoughts of forcing the issue and risking falling further adrift.

After biding his time, the opportunity he’d been waiting for arrived at the par-four 11th. He grasped it with both hands, holing a 10-footer for birdie while Swanwick suffered a triple-bogey seven.

“It was a huge momentum shift, for sure. My hands were shaking right after the putt at 11, since I knew that I was the leader. I kept telling myself to think in my head that he’s still leading. Still playing the game, like I’m not the leader. Still be aggressive but also play smart. I think I played it perfectly coming down the stretch,” said Fifa, who nonetheless had moments of anxiety at the par-five 13th where a rare wayward drive put him under severe pressure.

Some 50 yards short of the green in three, Fifa was staring at a probable bogey while Swanwick and Moore had short birdie putts. In the event, Fifa made a stupendous up-and-down to rescue an improbable par while his rivals both failed to convert their putts.

“On 13, I was on my way to make bogey, and Zack and Cooper had a great chance of making birdie. I knew it could be a two‑shot swing, but that par save was a game‑changer. To make par, like both of them on that hole, it was a huge momentum for me. If I missed that putt and Zack make his birdie putt, it would have been a lot different, that’s for sure.” 

From that point, Fifa was able to coast home, four pars and a birdie at 17 seeing him sign for a one-under 70. His six-under 278 aggregate was three better than Swanwick.

Fifa said: “It was a tough battle out there. Cooper and Zack were spectacular players and gave me a hard time. I was calm coming down the stretch at the end. Being able to finish it off feels amazing.

“I feel like I’m more proud of myself this year. I didn’t win a thing since March. There was a demon in my head. I don’t have it any more.

“This week I just tried to stay in the present, taking it one shot at a time and I perfectly executed the whole week.”

Indeed, he did. Pretty much in the manner of Matsuyama 15 years ago. Now for those return trips to Augusta National and The Open Championship.