Fifa Laopakdee draws attention at the British Open despite missing the cut
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 7:01 PM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Fifa Laopakdee, a 21-year-old golfer from Thailand, received significant support at the British Open held at Royal Birkdale. Despite shooting an 80 and missing the cut, Laopakdee's unique name, inspired by soccer's FIFA, has made him a standout figure. He attributes his name choice to his father and aims to make an impression as a professional golfer using this memorable identity. Laopakdee is currently a student at Arizona State University and has qualified for the tournament after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, marking a notable moment in his burgeoning career.
- •Laopakdee shot 80 and missed the cut at the British Open.
- •He was inspired by his father to use the name Fifa.
- •He supports Chelsea and is attending Arizona State University.
- •Laopakdee qualified for the Open by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
- 7:01 PMYahoo Sports — Fifa draws cheers at the British Open. And it's nothing to do with soccer
"Instead, they’ve been directed at a college kid from Thailand who has a memorable name and has just experienced a memorable week at the British Open. OK, Fifa Laopakdee shot 80 to miss the cut on Friday but he has stood out in this corner of northwest England, not least because of a playful nickname his soccer-loving father, Peter, gave him as a baby, in keeping with Thai culture. According to the 21-year-old Laopakdee, it was a choice between two names: Fifa, after the world soccer organization, or Uefa, after European soccer’s governing body.
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