Exciting Schedule Ahead for Thai Standout

Southport, England: A burning desire to secure return appearances to the Masters Tournament and Open Championship in 2027 will act as a major motivational force for Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee in the months ahead.

The Thai gained entry into arguably golf’s two most prestigious tournaments this year on the back of his triumph in last October’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in Dubai.

Although he missed the half-way cut at both Augusta National and Royal Birkdale, the experience of playing alongside the world’s finest golfers, cheered on by thronging galleries at iconic venues has only served to whet his appetite.

Rather than dwell on the disappointment of what proved to be a chastening week on England’s northwest coast, the 21-year-old Arizona State University standout is determined to look forward rather than back.

“It’s time to move on, learn from this week, and see what happens,” said Fifa, speaking in the wake of a second-round 80 at the Lancashire links on Friday.

In his case, a huge amount will be happening, involving an array of elite tournaments and a significant amount of travelling.

“I have a big schedule ahead of me for the rest of this year. We have the US Amateur, a lot of big college events, trying to defend my Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title in New Zealand and the Asian Games in Japan,” said Fifa, who was planning to spend this weekend unwinding at Birkdale after a stressful period in his Open build-up with a back injury forcing him to miss a week of practice and threatening his participation.

Despite the obvious discomfort he felt, not once did he use it as an excuse for his performance.

Asked if he was intending to squeeze in a couple more rounds of links golf before departing United Kingdom shores, Fifa said: “I think I’m going to give my lower back a break. I’m probably going to come to Birkdale and watch some golf. That’s what I did at the Masters.

“Just watch some great golfing on the weekend, spend some time here, have a great time with family and stuff, maybe take a train to Liverpool or Manchester, take in a few city views and try to have a good weekend and be ready to get back to the grind. I’ll be trying to get those Masters and Open spots again.”

To do that, he’ll need either to win the 126th US Amateur at Merion Golf Club (August 10-16) or the AAC at Te Arai Links in New Zealand (October 29-November 1).

The reward for capturing those titles are starting spots at the Masters at Augusta and the Open Championship at St Andrews next year. The US Amateur champion will also receive an exemption into the 2027 US Open at Pebble Beach.

By his own admission, Fifa has found it a challenge to adapt to the new demands and expectations on him following his play-off triumph at Emirates Golf Club, some nine months ago.

He said: “My coach at Arizona told me after I won the Asia-Pacific that my life was going to change. It’s very easy to fall off the train when you get all these opportunities to play in these big events and a lot more media, a lot more people looking up to you. It’s easy to fall off the train. I’m trying very, very hard to stay on the train.

“It’s nothing about the past or the future. It’s easier said than done. I try really, really hard to stay in the present, stay where my feet have to be. Sometimes I feel like I fell off the train but got back in … and then fell off again. It’s a lot of ups and downs, that’s for sure. It’s part of the learning curve.

“It’s a great opportunity for me, that’s for sure, to play and have this, feel this pressure, embrace this pressure, and have an opportunity to play in this event on behalf of Asian amateurs. It’s a huge honour. I can’t wait to be back.”

If personal glory is on the line at Merion and Te Arai Links, national pride will be to the fore at the Asian Games golf tournament at Kasugai Country Club in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture from September 30 to October 3. There, Fifa will be joined in the Thai team by Sadom Kaewkanjana, Poom Saksansin and the female trio of Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Arpichaya Yubol.

Also on Fifa’s radar is the possibility of making his Bonallack Trophy debut in the United Arab Emirates in January as part of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) team that will defend its title against the European Golf Association in the Ryder Cup-style match play contest.

Further good news for followers of the amateur game is that the Thai is committed to resisting the temptation to turn pro until he completes his formal education.

He said: “I have a year of college left. After I end my college career next May or June, I’m probably going to turn pro. We’ll see what happens from there.”