Fifa Laopakdee wanted another chance at the Masters, made golf history with back-to-back wins

A return to the biggest stages

Laopakdee rallied from six shots behind on Sunday to win the 2025 championship in Dubai. The victory secured invitations to the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

He said the Masters had inspired his love of golf from an early age. Laopakdee also spoke of watching the British Open and described the chance to follow that path as unreal.

Joining an exclusive group

With his repeat win, Laopakdee became just the second player to claim the Asia-Pacific Amateur title in consecutive years. Matsuyama was the first, winning in 2010 and 2011.

Laopakdee said matching Matsuyama felt amazing and that he hoped to follow the Japanese golfer’s example. He credited Matsuyama with having a major influence on golf in Japan and Asia.

A difficult season behind him

Laopakdee shared the title at the Desimone Invitational in March but struggled through the rest of the collegiate season. He also missed the cut at Augusta and Royal Birkdale.

He said those experiences helped him stay steady during the challenging season and prepared him for a turbulent Sunday at Te Arai. Laopakdee said the latest win proved to him that he still had it.

Composure down the stretch

Before his late tee time, Laopakdee described a routine of eating breakfast, reading, writing journal notes and looking for ideas to use on the course. He said the routine worked well during the tournament.

After a putt on the 11th, he said his hand was shaking as he realized he was leading. He tried to play as if he were behind, staying aggressive while making smart choices, and said he was pleased with how he handled the finish.

Laopakdee said he expected to feel calmer and more composed on his next visit to Augusta. He is also looking forward to playing at St. Andrews.