DUBAI – In a thrilling comeback, 20-year-old Fifa Laopakdee from Thailand overcame a six-stroke gap in the final round to clinch victory at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, held at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course on Sunday. This remarkable win makes Laopakdee the first Thai to capture this title, earning him a prestigious invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption to The 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale.

“It’s truly incredible,” Laopakdee expressed with enthusiasm. “Thai fans have long awaited seeing one of us, whether amateur or professional, competing in the Masters and The Open. I believe this win has garnered a large fan base. If I were to check my phone now, I’m sure it’s filled with messages from Thai supporters. This is a triumph not just for me and my family, but for all Thai fans and the nation.”

As a junior at Arizona State University, Laopakdee began the day trailing 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki from Japan, who had impressively set a new 54-hole scoring record at 17 under par. Despite a sluggish start, Laopakdee surged back with five birdies on the back nine – including crucial ones on the 17th and 18th holes – to force a playoff. He then birdied three consecutive playoff holes (18-17-18) to edge out Nagasaki, birdieing his final five holes to secure the championship.

“This victory means everything to me,” Laopakdee shared. “Pulling off such a win is unbelievable, and it was an intense contest. Kudos to Taisei for making it so challenging. It was an incredible experience.”

Laopakdee is set to become the first Thai amateur to compete in the Masters. He previously promised Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond that he would achieve this milestone, and during a post-championship interview, he proudly declared, “Coach, I did it!”

Participating in his fourth Asia-Pacific Amateur event, Laopakdee finished with a four-under 68, catching up with Nagasaki at 15 under par for the championship. They both ended two strokes ahead of Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, who secured third place for the second year in a row, likely marking his final amateur appearance.

Nagasaki had a chance to win in regulation but missed a five-footer for birdie at the par-5 18th to settle for the playoff.