TOMARATA, November 2, 2026 — Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand has secured his place in the 2026 Masters and the British Open by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, becoming the second player in history to defend the title.
The 21-year-old Arizona State senior closed with a 1-under 70 at Te Arai Links to finish at 6-under 278, defeating New Zealand’s Zack Swanick by three shots. The victory marks a significant milestone for the Thai golfer, who joins Hideki Matsuyama as the only players to win consecutive titles since the tournament began in 2009.
A Rare Achievement in Amateur Golf
Laopakdee’s success at Te Arai Links is a statistical anomaly in the modern era of the event. According to the Associated Press, he is the second player to achieve back-to-back victories in a tournament that started in 2009. The first was Hideki Matsuyama, who won in 2010 and 2011.
For Laopakdee, the win carries additional weight because it secures his return to two of golf’s most prestigious stages. He will compete in the Masters at Augusta National in April and the British Open at St. Andrews next summer. This follows his initial qualification for those events after winning the 2025 championship in Dubai, where he beat Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki on the third playoff hole.
The Thai golfer noted that while his previous victory was momentous, this one felt more significant given his struggles during the collegiate season. “I feel like I’m more proud of myself this year because I never stopped believing in myself, even though I had a tough year,” Laopakdee said after his final round. He admitted to not winning a single competition since March, a period that included co-championship at the Desimone Invitational but otherwise a lack of major victories.
The Comeback at Te Arai
The final round at the wind-blown seaside course was defined by a dramatic shift in momentum. Laopakdee entered the back nine two shots behind Swanick, who had led the tournament entering Sunday. The turning point occurred on the 11th hole, where Laopakdee hit an approach shot just over the false front, leaving a 7-foot birdie putt.
Simultaneously, Swanick’s 6-iron into the green flew too far, landing in a back bunker. His subsequent shot rolled past the pin and into a deep swale, resulting in a triple bogey. This four-shot swing moved Laopakdee from a two-shot deficit to a two-shot lead.
Swanick, a junior at Florida, attempted to recover on the par-5 13th but missed a birdie putt from 10 feet. On the short par-4 14th, he drilled his driver onto the green 70 feet away, missed a birdie putt, and then missed a 4-foot par putt, adding another bogey to his scorecard.
Laopakdee effectively sealed the victory on the par-3 17th, hitting a wedge to 4 feet for a birdie that stretched his lead to four shots. Swanick, who shot 75 for the day, did not make a birdie until the closing hole. Laopakdee tapped in for par on the 18th to finish, repeatedly shaking his fists in celebration.
“It was tough luck for Zack on 11, it was super windy,” Laopakdee said. “I somehow hit a great second shot and made birdie and it created huge momentum for me.”
Lessons from Augusta and Birkdale
Laopakdee’s performance at Te Arai was informed by his experiences at the 2026 Masters and the British Open at Royal Birkdale, where he missed the cut at both events. While missing the cut is a disappointment, Laopakdee described the experience as a major learning curve.
He noted that living the professional life at those majors, sharing locker rooms and dining halls with the pros, helped him mature mentally. “I’m a lot more mature mentally,” he said. “I didn’t play good golf the whole year. It’s been a big learning curve year for me. When you get to live like a real professional golfer’s life at the Masters and the Open, you share the same locker room, share the same dining hall, share the same practice round, you get to experience how those people live. I just learned from it and it made me a lot more mature.”
Laopakdee also mentioned starting to read books on golf psychology, specifically citing the works of Bob Rotella, to help manage his mental game. This mental preparation was crucial during his late tee time at Te Arai, where he managed to steady himself despite the challenging conditions.
Next Steps: A Practice Round with Justin Rose
The win ensures Laopakdee will return to Augusta National in April for the Masters. He has already begun planning for that trip, having exchanged phone numbers with Justin Rose at the last Masters. Rose promised a practice round if Laopakdee made it back.
“Rosey, see you at a practice round for the Masters,” Laopakdee said with a wide smile after his victory. This scheduled practice round provides a concrete next step for the Thai golfer as he prepares for his second appearance at the Masters.
The British Open at St. Andrews will follow in the summer, completing the cycle of major championship appearances that his amateur title secures. For Laopakdee, the path from Te Arai to Augusta and St. Andrews is now clear, marked by a victory that required both skill and significant mental resilience.
Sources
- He wanted another chance at the Masters. He made history to get it | News | GOLF.com
- Sergio Garcia issues statement on his golfing future after leaving LIV Golf
- Fifa Laopakdee rallies to win Asia-Pacific Amateur again and heads back to Masters and British Open
- Stefano Utoikamanu relishes Samoa Vs Tonga rematch after knockout in Tonga debut – El-Balad.com
- Metropolitan Opera 2026-27 Review: Medea – OperaWire
Photo: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
