DUBAI – In a dramatic turn of events at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course, 20-year-old Fifa Laopakdee from Thailand claimed victory at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Overcoming a daunting six-stroke deficit at the start of the final round, Laopakdee’s win not only crowns him as the first Thai champion of this prestigious tournament but also secures him an 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 been eagerly waiting for a moment like this, for a Thai amateur or professional to compete on such significant stages as the Masters and The Open. This victory is monumental, not just for me and my family but for all the Thai supporters. I can only imagine the flood of messages from Thai fans on my phone right now. It’s a proud moment for my country and everyone involved.”

Laopakdee, currently a junior at Arizona State University, faced stiff competition from 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki of Japan, who had set a new 54-hole scoring record of 17 under par. Despite a slow start, Laopakdee’s performance on the back nine was nothing short of spectacular. He recorded five birdies, including crucial ones on the 17th and 18th holes, which propelled him into a playoff. Demonstrating resilience and skill, Laopakdee birdied three consecutive playoff holes (18-17-18) to ultimately triumph over Nagasaki, finishing with a flourish by birdieing his final five holes.

“This means everything to me,” Laopakdee reflected. “To pull off a win like this is just amazing, and it was a fantastic battle. Huge respect to Taisei for pushing me to my limits. It was a remarkable experience.”

With his victory, Laopakdee is set to make history as the first Thai amateur to compete in the Masters. He had previously promised Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond that he would achieve this feat, and following his championship win, he confidently looked into the camera and declared, “Coach, I did it!”

The four-time Asia-Pacific Amateur participant closed with a four under 68 to chase down Nagasaki at 15 under par for the Championship. The pair finished two strokes clear of Japan’s Rintaro Nakano, who finished third for the second consecutive year in what is likely his last event as an amateur.

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.