Asia-Pacific Amateur offers golden pathway to major dreams for likes of Kim Min-su

At the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), the demands are simple but unforgiving: Produce four rounds — 72 holes — of near-perfect golf, and the reward can be a lifetime of memories.

For those who dare to dream, winning the region’s most prestigious amateur competition comes with coveted opportunities to play at the Masters Tournament and The Open.

And sometimes, major glory awaits farther down the fairway, with Korea’s amateur star Kim Min-su embracing those opportunities with open arms.

The 18-year-old is among four Korean golfers headed to Te Arai Links in New Zealand this week to deliver a third win for the country, following the successes of Han Chang-won and Lee Chang-woo, who won the AAC in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

After finishing tied seventh in his debut in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, last year, Kim is eyeing another strong showing at Te Arai Links, where this year’s AAC will take place from Thursday.

“I vividly remember giving my absolute best while competing with the best players who represent the Asia-Pacific region,” said Kim, who won the Japan Amateur Open this year.

“This is my final year as an amateur, and my goals are to break into the top 100 in the world rankings and win the AAC.”

Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand is one of the lucky few who have realized their childhood dream, following a stunning triumph 12 months ago when he rewrote history by becoming the first amateur from his country to win the AAC.

He then had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the world’s best in the two majors this year.

Laopakdee, now a 21-year-old senior at Arizona State University, is eager to become only the second golfer after Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama to successfully defend his title and relive the drive down Magnolia Lane, with plans to visit St. Andrews in 2027.

“It’s a totally amazing experience,” Laopakdee said after his Masters debut last April.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. What the AAC has provided for me — and for every Asia-Pacific player — is amazing. I can’t wait to go to New Zealand, try to defend my title and do it all again next year. That will be so cool,” he added.

They say that golf is a marathon, not a sprint, and that proved true for a luckless Taisei Nagasaki of Japan, who opened up a six-shot lead after three rounds in Dubai but faltered at the finish line.

It was heartbreak for the now 17-year-old Nagasaki, who had a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation play to win last October. He missed his chance and lost in extra holes before understandably breaking down in tears as his dreams of competing in the Masters and The Open vanished.

“To play in the [AAC] is my biggest goal of the year, and [the championship] also gives me the closest opportunity to achieve my dream of playing in the Masters. I want to overcome the disappointment that I felt last year,” he said.

“From last year’s experience and other events played this year, I now have a better understanding of how I should be competing. This time, I want to aim for the win from the very beginning.”

The AAC returns to New Zealand for its 17th edition, with 120 of the region’s finest amateurs from 39 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation member organizations participating.

Since the AAC’s inauguration in 2009, notable past competitors have included the likes of Matsuyama, Australia’s Cameron Smith and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who have all gone on to win major titles, proving that the tournament launched by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, the R&A and the Masters Tournament has become a successful springboard for many rising stars.

Matsuyama became the first Asian to win the Masters in 2021. Smith won The Open in 2022, and Fox claimed victory at The Open in July.

“I owe a great debt of gratitude to Augusta National and will be eternally grateful for the opportunity that it gave me to play in the Masters, helping me reach my dream to play professional golf. Winning the 2010 Asia-Pacific Amateur was life-changing,” said Matsuyama, now the most decorated Asian golfer with 11 PGA Tour victories.

The other Koreans teeing up at Te Arai Links this week are Yu Min-hyeok, Son Je-yi and Lee Byung-ho.

The writer was formerly head of marcomms for the PGA Tour in Asia-Pacific and Asian Tour and now runs his own sports consultancy.

BY CHUA CHOO CHIANG [[email protected]]