Fifa Laopakdee

Fifa Laopakdee won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship for the second year running in November.

He became the first player since Hideki Matsuyama 15 years ago to win the Championship back-to-back.

Laopakdee’s victory, at Te Arai Links in New Zealand, brought with it a place at St Andrews for The 155th Open. He will now have the opportunity to tee it up at golf’s original championship for the second time, having made his debut at Royal Birkdale in July 2026.

His success in New Zealand came courtesy of an impressive six-under-par total of 278, enough for him to finish three strokes clear of runner-up Zack Swanwick.

In addition to securing a place at The Open, Laopakdee’s triumph also resulted in an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament.