MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2026

Fifa Laopakdee

Mateo Pulcini

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Please join me in welcoming two first-time competitors at the Masters, Fifa Laopakdee and Mateo Pulcini.

Before we begin, please join me in watching highlights from each of their performances to gain entry to the Masters.

(Video played.)

Congratulations. How great was that? Fifa earned his invitation with a victory in the Asia-Pacific Amateur in October, while Mateo's invitation, courtesy of his win at the Latin American Amateur in January.

Fifa, you came from behind to reach a spot in the playoff in Dubai. Then you made three consecutive birdies to win on the third extra hole. How did you maintain your composure, and when did it sink in to you that you would be here at the Masters Tournament?

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: I was just trying to enjoy it out there with my caddie. As I mentioned, I was kind of just singing songs down the fairway in the playoff and just trying to stay in the present, not think too much about what's going on around me. Just stay composed, and it worked out perfectly.

THE MODERATOR: Mateo, you also had to survive a very dramatic playoff at the Latin America Amateur down in Peru. Can you walk us through your emotions when you won as well as your excitement to compete in the Masters?

MATEO PULCINI: First, yeah, I was -- as soon as I won, I was so excited, like seeing all the Masters members, USGA members, R&A members. I knew the gift they were giving us to win a tournament and then play these three majors are an experience we're never going to forget.

Yeah, I was beyond proud of myself how I handled it during the playoff, during the final holes. I kept having fun, and that's my plan for this week too.

THE MODERATOR: For both of you, what has been your biggest impression since arriving at Augusta National this week?

MATEO PULCINI: First, how the people has treated us here, it's unbelievable. At least from my side, I feel like I'm top 5 in the world or something. It's great. Everybody says good luck. Everybody knows you, knows your name.

We feel that we're part of this crazy event, the Masters. So that's my best impression -- like most impressed with that.

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: Just like what Mateo said, like the hospitality here is amazing. They're treating us like a king. Like every staff know who we are and know our backgrounds, and they're all super friendly. I just feel like we -- it's amazing.

Q. Fifa, interested with the Arizona State history in this tournament and the amount of champions that have come through here, if you've talked with anybody that has experience here to prepare for what this week was going to be like.

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: Yeah, there's a lot of ASU alumni that have played this event for sure. I'm lucky enough to talk to them and talked back in ASU, like Josele, and I played with Jon Rahm at the start of January.

It's been an honor to have those kinds of guys in town and practice alongside you and give you any answers. They're happy enough to answer all my questions, all my concerns, and give me all the tips and other strategies to use this week.

Most importantly, it's been amazing.

Q. Mateo, for you, how cool was it being a part of Majo's celebration on Saturday and celebrating with her after she won the ANWA?

MATEO PULCINI: Yeah, that was awesome. She's an incredible player, incredible girl too. We're all really happy. Yeah, really excited too.

She works a lot, like she practice every day. Yeah, we're all pumped -- Hernan, Jorge, they are the coaches of her with her dad of course. How she played that last round, I follow her the 18 holes, like I told her I didn't see anybody hit the ball like that in that situation and playing here too. So I was really impressed with that.

Q. Fifa, I wonder if you have felt the impact of your victory with the kids from your home club and where you come from? And what has been also the effect of the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Thailand?

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: 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.

Yeah, it's a huge honor. The Thai fans and stuff have been very, very nice to me. It's nice to see how much they care and how much they support me and have my back.

It's a huge honor, but since winning the AAC, I'm still the same person, same Fifa, and just try to be myself. Not try to gain any expectation or anything, just do what I'm doing, and that's what I do best.

Q. Mateo, I wonder if you've felt the impacts of your victory in Córdoba, in your club, and what has been the effect of the Latin America Amateur in Argentina?

MATEO PULCINI: Well, in my club, I was really happy, first. They always help me. I always have fun when I go there. Yeah, I felt the impact. Now I think the kids at the club can know they can do a lot of stuff from where they are because I went to college and then I came back for two years, a year and a half. I developed more as a player from there too.

You can do a lot of stuff from Argentina as well, but you need to grind as well.

Q. Fifa, I know you've talked about it in the past before, but give us it again. With it being the year of FIFA World Cup, how you got your nickname of Fifa and how it is navigating the world of golf with that nickname?

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

Q. Mateo, your favorite hole and why?

MATEO PULCINI: My favorite hole I think is -- it's hard to not say 12, how it looks, but how it's played, I like 13. I would say that's my favorite because like the tee shot is, like, challenging. If you want to try to go for it on second shot, you need to be in a good place and then try to hit it on the right side -- like left side, and the second shot with the azaleas behind and the creek and how it looks, it's unbelievable. Most of the time you're hitting, like the ball is up your feet, so it's even harder.

Q. Mateo, can you talk about your time at the University of Arkansas and how maybe playing a big course like The Blessings might prepare you for this big course?

MATEO PULCINI: First of all, thank you to the University of Arkansas. I had a lot of fun there with Mr. Tyson and the team and really liked playing at Blessings there.

Yeah, Blessings is a course that you have to have your A game like every minute of it. You cannot waste shots or be in a bad day. If not, you're not going to have fun. I hear Mr. Tyson is doing it even harder right now, so I don't know if I want to go back there.

It's an unbelievable golf course, unbelievable facilities. University of Arkansas has really good stuff there, and I was lucky that I was there for a year.

Q. You both have had a long time to think about playing here and being at this event. You've had practice rounds here. What's it actually like to be here for the Masters with the best players in the world getting ready for this week?

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: It's amazing, that's for sure, to be walking into the locker room today, and my locker is between Tiger and Bryson. That's a lot to soak in (laughter). I definitely took a picture of that.

Yeah, 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 and one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world. You couldn't ask for anything better.

MATEO PULCINI: Yeah, like what Fifa said, the same. The locker room situation is unbelievable. I don't know if the Masters knew or not, I'm between Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. They were like my childhood heroes, Jordan mainly. I love how he played through his years and how he handles every situation.

Then I feel like a superstar here basically. Like I said, how they treat you, how the fans are coming to you saying good luck and everything. And signing things. It's a dream.

Q. You are the third Argentinean to win the LAC and to play here as an amateur. Have you talked with Abel and Mateo previously and tell the experience they have here?

MATEO PULCINI: Yes, I'm really close to them. I'm friends. With Abel, I talk a little bit, but I talk a lot with Mateo because I was a little closer to him than Abel. He was awesome. Since the first day I won, he texted me anything you want, anything I can help, just let me know. I've been reaching out to him quite a lot. He's always willing to help.

Mateo, and also Alvaro and Santiago de la Fuente both, they were helping me quite a lot. I know they've been in this situation, so I'm not afraid to ask them because they're really nice. I feel like I handled the situation kind of good and with my team too.

Q. The Asia-Pacific and the Latin America Amateur Championship provides so many opportunities to players from many, many countries, but ultimately you two are the ones representing in each of those championships. It's a little bit different going into a tournament knowing you're representing a country and also all the other countries that couldn't be here. How do you incorporate that into your preparation without it being too overwhelming to know what you're playing for and who you're playing for?

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: I'm trying not to think too much about that. I mean, as I mentioned, I'm still the same person after I won AAC. I still prepare the same way, maybe just practice a little more. But, yeah, everything is in the practice and what we do on the range. That's the thing I can control.

I can't control how people in Thailand or in Asia think about me or as a player or as a person. So I'm trying to control what I can control. I can control my mind. I can try and modify it in the best way possible. So, yeah, just stay in my own bubble, same presence, and let the result take care by itself.

MATEO PULCINI: Like Fifa said, I don't try to think too much about it. On the time of the preparation and the stuff that is not playing the actual tournament, I'm trying to do the best I can because I know there's a way that I have to -- yeah, I have to do.

But at the time that I play, I don't care. I'm going to have fun. I'm going to do my routine. It's my game. I earned this invitation as well. So I'm going to do the best I can and enjoy.

Q. For both of you guys, you talk about the locker room situation, just being in between guys that have been doing this for a long time, guys you've looked up to. I'm curious about the nerves of it all. Do you guys feel nervous? Do you guys feel any sort of pressure when you guys are on the golf course? Or do you think when the time comes for the first round, do you think that will maybe overtake you a little bit just understanding the scope of it all?

FIFA LAOPAKDEE: I'll say 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. 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.

Everyone is always going to feel nervous on the first tee, even the best player in the world, and that's what you train for. I'm just going to embrace it. I'm not trying to think too much and just go out there and have fun.