Fifa Laopakdee Reveals Advice from Jon Rahm, Fred Couples and Min Woo Lee After Masters Debut

For Pongsapak Laopakdee, known as “Fifa” due to his father’s love of football, becoming the first amateur from Thailand to compete at the 2026 Masters was a deeply meaningful milestone.

The 21-year-old’s Augusta National experience began with a surreal moment off the course. To his surprise, his locker was placed between five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods and two-time U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, a detail that left a lasting impression.

It was a moment that made Laopakdee feel all his hard work had paid off, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, quite literally, with some of golf’s biggest names.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, the Thai amateur said, “I was pretty shocked at first to when they signed me in, [and] they told me in the locker room for the first time and I saw that I was beside Tiger and Bryson. That was pretty amazing.” 

“Watching these guys on tv growing up Tiger will always be my inspiration. He's a guy who bought me into golf and, to finally have a locker right beside him." 

"It sucks that he couldn't play in the Masters, but, just having a locker right next to him, it means a lot to me, it shows that, where I am right now, like with all the grinds and practice I did throughout my whole life and [it] was amazing,” Laopakdee added. 

On the course, Laopakdee was grouped with 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples and world No. 25 Min Woo Lee, an experience he described as invaluable.

His standout moment came in the second round, when he produced three consecutive birdies on holes 13, 14 and 15.

Despite those flashes of brilliance, Augusta National proved unforgiving. Rounds of 80 and 75 left the Rayong native at +11, missing the cut and ending his tournament before the weekend.

Laopakdee identified his iron play, short game and scrambling as strengths, while recognising the need for further improvement if he is to compete at the highest level. Despite the result, he described his Masters debut as “amazing.

Learning from the Best

Playing alongside experienced professionals left a strong impression on the young amateur, particularly watching Couples up close.

“They were both very great to me. Very friendly, very kind. Freddie [Couples] was amazing. He played like the most perfect golf for the first 14 holes in the first round and it was amazing to watch,” he said in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com. 

“Even though he didn't hit far because he's [older], he didn't hit far like me or Min Woo. But he showed how classy he was around the greens and with his course management, which was amazing to watch.”

Laopakdee said he felt “fortunate” to share the course with both Couples and Lee, taking away invaluable lessons from their approach and experience.

The Challenge of Augusta

Augusta National lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest tests in golf.

“Yeah, I mean, it's Augusta. It's hard,” he added.

He expanded on the challenge in more detail. 

“Every hole from 1 to 18 demands a lot for your golf game. Every hole, every aspect of it. That's why it's the Masters, it shows that you have to be great with almost every shot, not just that, but also good course management as well.”

The difficult conditions only added to the test.

“Yeah, it challenged all of us. Especially on Thursday when it played very tough because the greens were really firm and fast, and also windy in the afternoon, and you couldn't hold the ball on the green at all.”

“So, it demands the most of every player. It demands every aspect of it. It shows that you have to play very well in order to win a major championship. It's very hard. It's very challenging for everyone, both strategically and mentally.”

Jon Rahm Interaction

The Arizona State University junior credited interactions with top players for shaping his mindset, including advice from 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm, a fellow ASU alumnus.

“I mean [Jon] Rahm just told me to go out there and have fun and learn as much as possible. I mean Augusta National is kind of really explanatory of where you have to miss, how you have to play this course. It’s just sometimes very hard to do, especially in those tough conditions.”

Staying Mentally Strong

The youngster, who hit 57 per cent of fairways and averaged 309 yards off the tee in round one and 300 in round two, remained focused and present despite making bogeys across both rounds.

“I didn't let that destroy me mentally. I was enjoying staying in the present. I tried to grind and fight through all the ups and downs out there.”

“I think I did a pretty good job of staying in my own bubble for two rounds, even though the result might not show it. But I think I was pretty tough, mentally, out there.”

While he acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly with his driving, he remains focused on refining his game.

“I have some mistakes I have to fix with my swing, and my driving wasn't that great at the Masters. I have some mechanical things I have to fix and right now it looks pretty good.”

Looking Ahead to The Open

Laopakdee is now turning his attention to his next major test, the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this summer, where he plans to apply the lessons learned at Augusta.

“You don't have to hit far to belong on tour. You just need to find a way to manage your B game out there.”

“You can play a B game and still win. And if you have very good course management and stuff, that's what I'm going to try and do at the Open,” he concluded.