Fifa Laopakdee

Fifa Laopakdee
Personal information
Full namePongsapak Laopakdee
NicknameFifa
Born (2005-03-02) 2 March 2005
Rayong, Thailand
Sporting nationality Thailand
Career
CollegeArizona State University
StatusAmateur
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentCUT: 2026
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipCUT: 2026
Medal record
Men's golf
Representing  Thailand
SEA Games
Gold medal – first place2025 Bangkok–ChonburiIndividual
Gold medal – first place2025 Bangkok–ChonburiTeam
Silver medal – second place2021 HanoiTeam

Pongsapak "Fifa" Laopakdee (Thai: พงศภัค เหล่าภักดี; born 2 March 2005)[1] is a Thai amateur golfer who plays collegiate golf for the Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2025, he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, becoming the first Thai golfer to win the event and earning invitations to the 2026 Masters Tournament and 2026 Open Championship.[2][3]

Early life

Laopakdee was born on 2 March 2005 in Rayong, Thailand.[1][4] His nickname, "Fifa", was given to him by his father, Peter Laopakdee, a football supporter, after FIFA; his father had also considered "Uefa", after the UEFA Champions League.[3] His father, a golf teaching professional, introduced him to golf at an early age, and Laopakdee was selected for Thailand's national amateur team at the age of 13.[5]

Amateur career

Laopakdee plays college golf in the United States for the Arizona State Sun Devils.[6]

At the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, Laopakdee was part of the Thailand men's team that won the silver medal in the team event.[7]

In 2022, Laopakdee represented the International team at the Junior Presidents Cup. He has also represented Thailand at the Eisenhower Trophy.[8]

In 2025, Laopakdee won the Thunderbird Collegiate while playing for Arizona State.[6] Later that year, he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. He entered the final round six strokes behind Japanese amateur Taisei Nagasaki and shot a final-round 68 to finish tied at 15-under-par. Laopakdee won the title on the third playoff hole.[2] The win made him the first Thai champion in the event's history and earned him invitations to the 2026 Masters Tournament, the 2026 Open Championship, and The Amateur Championship.[2][9]

In December 2025, Laopakdee won two gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games, taking the men's individual title and helping Thailand win the men's team event.[10]

In April 2026, Laopakdee made his major championship debut at the 2026 Masters Tournament, becoming the first Thai amateur to compete at the Masters.[3] He missed the cut after rounds of 80 and 75.[8]

Amateur wins

  • 2018 TrueVisions Singha Junior Championship 4, Pondok Indah International Junior Championship
  • 2019 National Team Ranking #1, TGA-Singha Junior Ranking #6
  • 2020 Singha Thailand Amateur Open
  • 2021 Thailand Junior Development Tour #3 Eastern Region, Singha Thailand Amateur Open, TJGGA Open Championships #3, Thailand Junior Development Tour #5 Eastern Region
  • 2022 National Team Ranking #2, AR American Cup, National Team Ranking #3, Coca Cola Junior Championship at The Highlands, Future Legends Junior Championship
  • 2023 National Team Ranking #2, National Team Ranking #5, Maui Jim Individual at Legend Trail
  • 2024 Papago Individual
  • 2025 Thunderbird Collegiate, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, SEA Games
  • 2026 The Desimone Invitational

Source:[4]

Results in major championships

Tournament 2026
Masters Tournament CUT
PGA Championship
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut

Team appearances

Amateur

References

  1. 1 2 "Pongsapak Laopakdee". European Tour. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Fifa Laopakdee becomes first Thai to win Asia-Pacific Amateur, earns Masters, The Open spots". PGA Tour. Associated Press. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Hersh, Philip (6 April 2026). "Soccer has FIFA, Augusta has Fifa as Thai amateur set for Masters debut". Reuters. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Pongsapak Laopakdee". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Family instils joy of golf in humble Thai". Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Fifa Laopakdee – Men's Golf". Arizona State Sun Devils. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "กอล์ฟไทยเก็บเพิ่มอีก 1 ทอง 1 เงิน ประเภททีมซีเกมส์ที่เวียดนาม" [Thai golf wins another gold and silver in team events at the SEA Games in Vietnam]. MGR Online (in Thai). 18 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  8. 1 2 Hall, Mike (7 April 2026). "Fifa Laopakdee facts: 12 things to know about the amateur golfer". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Thai wonder Fifa clinches historic win". Bangkok Post. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Thai golf team makes history with four SEA Games golds". The Nation. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
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