PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana holds a fascinating distinction at this week’s British Open.
No, not being one of the players at 3-under par and one shot out of the lead after the first round of the British Open.
The 27-year-old Kaewkanjana is the only Buddhist monk in the field this week.
He took a short hiatus from professional golf in 2023 to live as a Buddhist monk and practice meditation before returning to the game. Before the hiatus, he won twice on the Asian Tour and finished 11th at the 2022 British Open at St. Andrews.
“I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,” he said in a 2023 interview. “I was cut off from the rest of the world when I was ordained. That made me feel more calm. I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my game of golf.”
Kaewkanjana, who’s ranked 262nd in the world, qualified for the Open by winning the Kolon Korea Open in May, part of the Open Qualifying Series.
“It’s my responsibility in Thailand, so I think it’s a new experience being a monk,” he said Thursday. “They help like more concentrate on the golf course or outside the golf course. It’s made me a lot of focus. Forget everything outside, just live in the present. So, I really enjoy being a monk.”
Now he’s enjoying being in contention at the Open entering Friday’s second round.
Asked what he’s looking forward to the rest of the week, he said, “Very excited to play and very excited to watch the top players play in the same conditions, same golf course, and learn how to play like them.
“My goal is I want to play in the Masters my whole life. I want to play one time. So, to get in the world ranking into the top 50, that’s my goal.”
