Memorable Masters Debut for Smiling Fifa

Augusta, Georgia, United States: Despite running up four successive bogeys to finish his opening round at the 90th Masters Tournament, Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee could not wipe the smile from his face.

Winner of last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), the 21-year-old Thai was warmly applauded as he made his way around the hallowed fairways of Augusta National Golf Club.

In firm and fast conditions that proved a test for even the best players in the world, Fifa finished the day with an eight-over-par 80.

Playing alongside past Masters champion and perennial crowd favourite Fred Couples and Australian Min Woo Lee, it was an unusual round for the Arizona State University junior that included just four pars.

Although he avoided any big blowouts, his card included 11 bogeys. However, it’s the three birdies that he made that will live long in his memory.

The first came at the par-five second hole where he chipped to 10 feet and rolled home the putt. Having made a nerve-settling regulation par at the opening hole, Fifa found himself at one-under through two.

He did not remain in red figures for long, dropping a shot at the third, the first of five bogeys in succession. He stopped the rot with pars at eight and nine to turn in four-over 40, but had further bogeys at 10 and 11.

At the par-five 13th he laid up short of Rae’s Creek from where his 75-yard pitch came to rest 14 feet short of the cup. He duly holed the putt.

Arguably his shot of the day came at the 14th where he punched a low iron approach from the pine needles on the right of the fairway to 16 feet and made the putt.

The homeward stretch may not have been kind to him, but the Thai was clearly ensuring he soaked in the atmosphere.

With a 74, American Ethan Fang led the way among the six amateurs in the starting line up, followed by Jackson Herrington (76) and Mason Howell (77). Fifa is ahead of the two other amateurs, American Brandon Holtz and Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini, both of whom returned 81s.