At just 21, Fifa Laopakdee has already written Thai golf history — becoming the first golfer from his country to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and the first Thai amateur to compete at the Masters.
His net worth as an amateur is minimal today, but the financial runway opening in front of him is extraordinary.
Fifa Laopakdee’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Pongsapak Laopakdee |
| Nickname | Fifa |
| Date of Birth | 2 March 2005 |
| Age | 21 |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Birthplace | Rayong, Thailand |
| College | Arizona State University (Sun Devils) |
| Status | Amateur |
| Highest WAGR | 21st |
| WAGR Wins | 5 |
| Major Championship Appearances | 2026 Masters Tournament (CUT) |
| Career Prize Money | 0.5 million |
| Net Worth | 1million |
| Father | Peter Laopakdee (golf teaching professional) |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Pongsapak “Fifa” Laopakdee was born on 2 March 2005 in Rayong, a coastal province southeast of Bangkok, Thailand.
His father Peter Laopakdee is a golf teaching professional, and he introduced Fifa to the game at a young age.
That early exposure planted seeds that would grow into one of Asia’s most exciting amateur careers.
The nickname “Fifa” came directly from his father’s passion for football. Peter had considered two options — “Fifa” after the FIFA World Cup, or “Uefa” after the UEFA Champions League.
As Fifa himself joked before the 2026 Masters, “Luckily it ends up with Fifa.” The name has since become one of the most recognisable in amateur golf.
Selected for Thailand’s national amateur team at age 13, Laopakdee’s talent was already clear. He competed in junior tournaments across Asia, collecting titles that would catch the attention of college recruiters in the United States.
His breakthrough at the junior level came through events like the TrueVisions Singha Junior Championship and multiple Singha Thailand Amateur Open victories in 2020 and 2021.
The path to Arizona State University began in an unlikely location — Europe. Laopakdee competed in a tournament where three of the top finishers — winner Michael Mjaaseth, Spain’s Josele Ballester, and Laopakdee himself — all eventually became Sun Devils.
Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond spotted Fifa’s game early and brought the young Thai star into one of college golf’s most storied programs, a school whose alumni include Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm.
Professional Golf Career
Fifa Laopakdee is still an amateur, currently completing his junior year at Arizona State University.
Despite holding no professional status, his competitive record is already one of the strongest among any active amateur golfer in the world.
His college career at ASU has been consistently impressive. He earned 2026 Big 12 second-team honors with three top-10 and six top-20 finishes during his junior campaign, posting a scoring average of 71.38 over 31 rounds.
He won the Thunderbird Collegiate in 2025 and co-won the Desimone Invitational in March 2026, building a record that placed him among the most decorated active Sun Devils in the program’s storied history.
The defining moment of his career so far came in October 2025 at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Laopakdee staged a remarkable comeback at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, entering the final round six shots behind 16-year-old Japanese standout Taisei Nagasaki.
He charged through the back nine with five birdies in his final six holes to post 15-under 273, forcing a playoff after Nagasaki missed a birdie putt on the last hole. Laopakdee won the title on the third playoff hole.
The win made him the first Thai champion in the event’s history and earned him invitations to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Caddie
Fifa Laopakdee worked with caddie Santiago Botero at the 2026 Masters Tournament, with the two photographed discussing strategy on the 11th hole during practice rounds at Augusta National ahead of the tournament.
At the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, Laopakdee’s caddie was described by the AAC as his best friend, suggesting the kind of close, trust-based partnership that suits an amateur competitor more than a formal professional arrangement.
As an amateur who does not pay tour caddie fees or work within the structured caddie programmes of the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, Laopakdee’s bagman situation remains informal and event-specific.
That will change when he turns professional and enters a world where the caddie relationship becomes a long-term strategic partnership — one that players of his calibre typically invest in carefully before their debut season.
Fifa Laopakdee’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Fifa Laopakdee’s has a minimal estimated net worth 1million.
Because he holds amateur status under the Rules of Amateur Status approved by the R&A and USGA, he is not permitted to accept prize money, appearance fees, or commercial endorsement income that would compromise his eligibility.
His financial picture today is essentially that of a college student — but that story is about to change dramatically.
Career Prize Money
Fifa Laopakdee has earned zero official prize money to date. Amateur status prohibits it. This is not unusual — major amateur champions from Rory McIlroy to Tiger Woods entered professional golf with similarly bare prize money ledgers but enormous market value built through their amateur records.
As a point of reference for what awaits him: The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2026 carries a total purse that reflects the modern era of golf’s escalating prize funds.
Should Laopakdee turn professional and compete on the DP World Tour or PGA Tour, a single top-10 finish at a major could net him well above $500,000.
Players of similar amateur pedigree — like Josele Ballester, Laopakdee’s ASU teammate who turned pro and joined LIV Golf — move quickly into six-figure earnings in their debut professional season.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season / Year | Status | Notable Results | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2021 | Amateur (Thailand) | Singha Thailand Amateur Open (×2), SEA Games Team Silver | $0 (amateur) |
| 2022–2023 | Amateur (ASU) | Junior Presidents Cup, Eisenhower Trophy, Maui Jim Individual | $0 (amateur) |
| 2024 | Amateur (ASU) | Papago Individual | $0 (amateur) |
| 2025 | Amateur (ASU) | Thunderbird Collegiate, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, SEA Games Double Gold | $0 (amateur) |
| 2026 | Amateur (ASU) | Desimone Invitational, 2026 Masters (CUT), 2026 Open Championship | 1million |
Career Statistics
| Year | Competition Level | Key Win(s) | Major Appearances | WAGR / Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2021 | National Amateur (Thailand) | Singha Thailand Amateur Open (×2) | None | National Top-3 |
| 2022 | College / International Amateur | AR American Cup, Future Legends Junior | None | National Ranking #2/#3 |
| 2023 | College (ASU) | Maui Jim Individual (Legend Trail) | None | National Ranking #2/#5 |
| 2024 | College (ASU) | Papago Individual | None | Improving WAGR |
| 2025 | College + International Amateur | Thunderbird Collegiate, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, SEA Games (Individual Gold + Team Gold) | None | WAGR Peak: 21st |
| 2026 | College + Major Championships | Desimone Invitational | Masters (CUT), The Open (entered) | Top-25 WAGR |
FAQs
What is Fifa Laopakdee’s net worth?
Fifa Laopakdee’s net worth is minimal 1 million. Amateur status under R&A and USGA rules prohibits him from accepting prize money or commercial endorsements, so he has no professional earnings or sponsorship income yet.
Has Fifa Laopakdee earned any prize money?
Laopakdee has earned zero official prize money through 2026. All of his wins — including the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and two 2025 SEA Games gold medals — were competed under amateur status, which does not permit prize money payouts.
When will Fifa Laopakdee turn professional?
Laopakdee has indicated he plans to complete his senior year at Arizona State University before turning professional. That puts a likely professional debut in mid-to-late 2027, following the 2026–27 college golf season.
What is Fifa Laopakdee’s biggest career win so far?
His biggest win is the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, where he came from six shots back to beat Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki in a playoff. The victory made him the first Thai player to win the event and earned him Masters and Open Championship invitations.
What is Fifa Laopakdee’s current World Amateur Golf Ranking?
Laopakdee reached a peak WAGR of 21st following his 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur win. He remains among the top-ranked amateur golfers in the world and is currently one of the amateurs competing at The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July 2026.
