SOUTHPORT, England (AP) 鈥� There have been roars of support for Fifa around the links of Royal Birkdale this week.
No, not the heavily scrutinized soccer organization.
Instead, they鈥檝e been directed at a college kid from Thailand who has a memorable name and has just experienced a memorable week at the .
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鈥檚 governing body.
Fifa got the nod 鈥� and that鈥檚 what he鈥檒l continue to call himself instead of his real first name, Pongsapak, as his golfing career progresses.
鈥淚f I use Fifa when I turn pro, I think I鈥檒l be more memorable,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t looks like people will remember my name more.鈥�
So what does he think of having the same name as the soccer body run by Gianni Infantino that occasionally attracts headlines for the wrong reasons 鈥� like, for example, at the taking place in North America?
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been called dictators, rigged, staged, corrupt 鈥� I just find it funny, because I鈥檓 a big football fan,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just find it extremely hilarious.鈥�
Laopakdee, who supports English soccer team Chelsea, attends Arizona State University and is playing at the Open after winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last year. That also secured him a place at this year鈥檚 Masters, where he didn鈥檛 make the weekend after shooting rounds of 80 and 75.
What he has experienced over the last three months has been life-changing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for me, that鈥檚 for sure, to feel this pressure, embrace this pressure and have an opportunity to play in this event on behalf of Asian amateurs,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge honor. I can鈥檛 wait to be back.鈥�
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