Fifa Laopakdee - Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion

April 8, 2026·31 min·2 clips

Fifa Laopakdee, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion, discusses preparing for his first Masters appearance.

1. The Back of the Range interviews Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Fifa Laopakdee of Arizona State ahead of his debut at the Masters, where he will represent Thailand as the first Thai player at Augusta National. 2. Fifa is a sophomore at Arizona State; host Ben Edelberg covered him at the Valspar Collegiate where Fifa finished outside the top ten after four consecutive weeks on the road. 3. The episode's core subject is Fifa's path from Rayong, Thailand to Augusta National, covering his junior golf roots, the role of his father, and his arrival at Arizona State. 4. Fifa's father, a weekend golfer, introduced him to the game at age two with a plastic club and bought him a US Kids set at age four; Fifa played his first competitive tournament at age six. 5. On his first ever competitive hole, Fifa hit more than ten shots in a bunker without escaping; his father eventually picked up the ball and placed it on the grass to continue the round. 6. Fifa's nickname was chosen by his soccer-loving father before he was born, selecting 'FIFA' over 'UEFA' from the UEFA Champions League; his younger brother's nickname is Putter. 7. Fifa describes himself as competitive and prone to anger in video games and other sports, but visibly calm on the golf course — smiling, singing to himself, and laughing, which is genuinely how he performs at his best rather than a mask. 8. The Thai junior golf pathway was underdeveloped when Fifa was young, with most Thai players turning pro at 17 or 18 rather than pursuing college golf; Fifa's father independently researched the AJGA and registered Fifa in New York around age 10 or 11. 9. Fifa had been traveling to the United States nearly every summer since age six to play junior events including the IMG Junior World in San Diego, so the transition to college life was less of a culture shock than it might have been. 10. Fifa never took an official visit to Arizona State; his first day on campus was as a student and team member, and he credits the Sun Devil men's golf Instagram for making him feel like part of the family before arriving. 11. He also had pre-existing relationships with ASU teammates Connor, Jose, and Michael from junior golf events including the IMG Junior World and the UK Young Masters. 12. In his freshman year, coaches told Fifa to go out and have fun without applying pressure, which he describes as the right approach — his success and the team's success were linked, so making him comfortable was the priority. 13. Fifa won the Decimal Invitational at Lake Marseille three weeks before the Valspar Collegiate and finished top ten in Tucson the following week, establishing form heading into the Masters. 14. He describes keeping calm on the golf course by singing Bruno Mars songs to himself while walking the fairway; he mentions learning the habit from a friend on the LPGA. 15. When he drove down Magnolia Lane on a preview visit to Augusta with his caddy, they played 'Funky Town' from the Trolls movie — a moment he presents as emblematic of how he approaches the experience as an amateur rather than as a professional. 16. Arizona State coach Thurman advised Fifa to manage his energy during Masters week by limiting practice to nine holes Monday and Tuesday and doing something fun — pickleball or bowling — before Thursday. 17. Fifa's parents, younger brother, and Coach Thurman will attend the Masters; he wanted to bring teammates but they are competing at ASU's home event in Phoenix. 18. The episode is warm and conversational, with Edelberg joking about Fifa's name meaning 'brave king protector' and expressing genuine excitement about watching Fifa at Augusta. 19. Fans of international golf pathways, college golf culture, and player profile stories ahead of the Masters will find this episode engaging. 20. Listeners seeking tactical Masters course previews, swing analysis, or betting perspectives will not find those here.

As heard by us

A calm, insider golf conversation with real texture behind the Masters spotlight.

Ben Edelberg keeps the attention on Pongzipak Lakoti's road to Augusta, and the piece works best when it stays close to the details that matter: the Masters, the Asia-Pacific Amateur berth, a win at Lake Marseille, a top-10 in Tucson, and the strain of four straight weeks on the…

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Want a Masters-week amateur golf story with a real Arizona State fit angle?

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