The fairytale of a place at the Masters for a tearful 16-year-old Japanese boy has died -- as well as the hopes of two battling young Australians.

But the dream has come true for Thailand's Augusta-bound Pongsapak 'Fifa' Laopakdee, the new Asia-Pacific Amateur champion after the most extraordinary final-day drama.

"I told my coach, Matt Thurmond, I'll be the first Thai to win this event and be the first Thai amateur to play in the Masters," beamed Laopakdee after his historic triumph in Dubai on Sunday.

"Coach, I did it! It means the whole world to me."

But the 20-year-old's joy was in contrast to the misery of teenager Taisei Nagasaki, who missed a four-foot putt on the final green in regulation at the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club which would have earned him victory and a t

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