Laopakdee First Thai Amateur To Earn Masters Invitation

Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee, a 20-year-old Arizona State junior, rallied from six shots down with a final-round 4-under 68, birdied the last five holes and then birdied all three extra holes to defeat 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki on the third playoff hole to win the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Laopakdee cleared the 18th water with a 6-iron on the playoff hole and finished tied with Nagasaki at 15-under after Nagasaki, who led after 54 holes, shot a 74 in the final round. The victory made Laopakdee the first Thai player to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur and the first Thai amateur to earn an invitation to the Masters, and it also secured him a spot in The Open Championship. He credited his coach, celebrated with teammates on the green, and said the win meant the world to him and Thai fans. The result will boost his World Amateur Golf Ranking and sends him to the 2026 majors.