Thailand’s Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee hopes more Southeast Asian golfers will feature at golf’s major championships, saying the region has the talent to compete but needs more opportunities at the highest level.
The 21-year-old is the only Southeast Asian in the field for this week’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, continuing Thailand’s strong presence at the majors while highlighting the region’s limited representation on golf’s biggest stage.
Speaking ahead of his Open debut, Laopakdee said players from Southeast Asia would benefit from greater exposure to elite tournaments.
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“I think the biggest thing is having more opportunities to compete in events like this,” Laopakdee told SPOTV.
“Players in Southeast Asia have a lot of talent, but I feel we’re still lacking clear pathways into the biggest tournaments and major championships.
“The more opportunities we have to compete at this level, the more players from our region will be able to gain experience and eventually contend regularly.”
Laopakdee earned his place at Royal Birkdale by winning last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which also secured him an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament.
The Thai made his major debut at Augusta National in April, where he gained valuable experience playing alongside former champions and top golfers.
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“I learned a lot from my first Masters, especially from playing with Fred Couples and Min Woo Lee,” he said.
“Fred was incredibly kind and generous with his time. Whenever I asked him questions about strategy, the mental side of the game or anything else, he was always happy to share his experience.
“That week taught me a lot, and I’ll definitely carry those lessons with me going forward.”
The Masters was one of several milestones during a memorable 12 months for Laopakdee, who also won gold at the Southeast Asian Games and claimed a college title with Arizona State University.
“Looking back over the past 12 months, it’s been an incredible journey,” he said.
“Winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, winning a gold medal at the SEA Games, playing in the Masters and winning a college event have all been huge milestones for me.
“It’s definitely been a big step forward in my career. I’ve really enjoyed the whole process, the highs, the lows and everything I’ve learned along the way.”
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Laopakdee will continue his amateur career after The Open, with the U.S. Amateur next on his schedule before returning to Arizona State for his final college season.
“After The Open, I’ll be playing in the U.S. Amateur before heading back to Arizona State University,” he said.
“I have one more year of college golf before I plan to turn professional, so I’m really excited to make the most of my final season and see where it takes me.”
The 154th Open Championship will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW.
