Sawt Falasteen - Thai amateur 'Fifa' ready for Masters kick-off

Fifa, a junior at Arizona State University, will become the first Thai amateur to compete at Augusta National when he tees off in the opening round at the famed course.

"It's a huge honor, that's for sure, to be the first Thai amateur to play in the Masters. It's always nice to know that you're playing for something that's bigger than yourself," he said on Monday.

"Thai fans have been very nice to me. It's nice to see how much they care and how much they support me and have my back."

Fifa won last October's Asia-Pacific Amateur in Dubai to claim a spot in this week's Masters field, making birdies on the last two holes of regulation play and all three playoff holes to earn his trip to Augusta.

"I was just singing songs down the fairway in the playoff and trying to stay in the present, not think too much about what's going on around me, just stay composed," he said.

"And it worked out perfectly."

Fifa can thank his father for his nickname being the same as the world football governing body, which will stage the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada this year.

"My dad is a huge soccer fan and he was choosing between Fifa from FIFA World Cup and Uefa from UEFA Champions League," Laopakdee said. "So luckily it ends up with at Fifa."

Fifa was amazed at the hospitality at Augusta Nation -- "they're treating us like a king" -- and with his place in the locker room.

"It's amazing to be walking into the locker room and my locker is between Tiger (Woods) and Bryson (DeChambeau). That's a lot to soak in. I definitely took a picture of that," Laopakdee said.

"It's amazing that all these guys that you always watch on TV and now you finally get to play in the same event with them in one of the most prestigious events on one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world. You couldn't ask for anything better."

Fifa had a January practice session with Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters winner, and other former Arizona State stars.

"It has been an honor to have those kinds of guys in town and practice alongside you and give you any answers," Fifa said.

That helped Fifa keep his cool during his first official Masters practice round.

"I was pretty calm and collected today on the course. I didn't feel a lot of nerves because I was trying to go out there and have fun, be myself," he said.

"Obviously on the first tee on Thursday, you're going to feel nerves, and that's the thing you have at playing the Masters for the first time.

"I'm just going to embrace it. I'm not trying to think too much and just go out there and have fun."

L.Hussein--SF-PST