Fifa Bids to Score Back-to-Back Successes

Auckland, New Zealand: Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee will be chasing history when he tees-off in the 17th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) at Te Arai Links tomorrow.

Triumphant at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai last year, the 21-year-old Thai is among the favourites to claim the coveted title over the spectacular links-style layout sculpted by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

And if he were to do so, he’d become only the second player to make a successful defence, following Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who launched his career with back-to-back AAC victories in 2010 and 2011.

He’d also be just the third player to win the championship twice, a feat that was achieved by China’s Lin Yuxin (2017 and 2019).

Fittingly, Fifa will launch his bid as a member of the opening day's marquee group alongside Australian Harry Takis and New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick, the two highest rated players in the field at 21st and 23rd respectively in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Fifa is 30th.

With the reward of places in the 2027 Masters Tournament at Augusta National and The 155th Open at St Andrews on offer to the winner, a thrilling week is in store in conditions which are unfamiliar to many players in the 120-strong starting line-up.

Fifa said: “The greens are very, very firm, and when it gets windy out there, you have to keep the ball low and in play. It’s going to be a great test of golf this week, that’s for sure, especially when the winds gets up and if it rains.”

Although he’s not played too often in conditions such as this, the Arizona State University player will be able to draw on the experiences he’s gained during his year as champion of the AAC.

He said: “It’s been such a great year for me. A lot of things happened after I won the AAC last year, as far as playing in the Masters and The Open. The experience on both of them were amazing. 

“At the Masters, I got to play in the same group as Fred Couples for the first two rounds. Had a great time with him. 

“At The Open, I got to play with (Im) Sung-jae and Dan Brown and they both shot four‑under in the first round, up on the leaderboard. So, I got to see a lot of good golf this year, and it’s been amazing so far.”

Nonetheless, Fifa knows there is considerable room for improvement in his game.

He said: “Compared to last year, in 2026 my golf game was not where I wanted it to be.  I don’t see it as a failure. I see it as a learning experience. I didn’t play great at the Masters. I didn’t play great at The Open. And I didn’t play great in college this year. 

“But I think I’ve grown and I’m a lot more mature than last year mentally. Playing with all those guys at the Majors has taught me a lot.

“Having played at the Majors, I know that I’m capable of being there with those top guys. I saw how they play and they don’t outdrive me and they don’t out‑ball strike me. But they are just a lot more loose and more comfortable out there than me in the Majors.

“I can hit the ball the way they hit ... it’s just that I’ve not been that comfortable out there this year. But if I could just put myself out there again, I think I would be a lot more comfortable and be able to shoot some nice score.”