Who Is Sadom Kaewkanjana? Thai Buddhist Monk Turned British Open Contender

Sadom Kaewkanjana has turned into a surprising competitor at the 2025 British Open. This 27-year-old from Thailand, who is both a pro golfer and an ordained Buddhist monk, amazed the crowd at Royal Portrush with a nearly perfect first round, carding a 3-under 68 and sitting just one stroke away from the clubhouse lead. His story is from a Buddhist monastery to the golf leaderboard of the oldest championship and is as extraordinary as his performance.Sadom Kaewkanjana stands out as a golfer. Originating from Thailand, he has established a strong presence on the Asian Tour and Thailand Golf Tour, securing three and five victories respectively. His impressive performance brought him a career-high world ranking of 75th, allowing him to compete in major championships such as the PGA Championship in 2022 and 2023. Yet, it was his debut at the British Open in 2022 that truly made waves. At St. Andrews, the iconic home of golf, tied for 11th place setting a record for the best finish by a Thai player in the tournament's history.Kaewkanjana stands out because of his time spent as a Buddhist monk. In 2023, he took a two-week hiatus from golf to get ordained, something many Thai men in their 20s do. During this time, he resided in a monastery, where he meditated, absorbed Buddhist teachings, and contributed to his community. “I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,” he said, reflecting a deep cultural tradition.Isolated from everything during his ordination, Kaewkanjana discovered a deeper sense of tranquility. “That made me feel more calm. I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my game of golf,” he told reporters in an interview following his monkhood.Before becoming a monk, Sadom Kaewkanjana was already making waves in the golf scene. His 11th-place finish at St. Andrews in 2022 showed he could hold his own against the top players, even with not much experience on links courses. He also qualified for the PGA Championship in both 2022 and 2023, although he didn’t make the cut in either tournament. Regardless, these experiences helped cement his reputation as one of Thailand’s leading golfers.His decision to become a monk in 2023 wasn’t a retreat from golf but a step toward enhancing it. “Being a monk was helping me concentrate on the golf course and improve my focus,” He talked to reporters after his first round at Royal Portrush. The meditation techniques he used staying in the moment and releasing distractions—reflect the mental challenges of golf, particularly when facing the pressure of a major tournament.During the same tournament, Jon Rahm was clearly annoyed and even snapped at a fan for whistling while he was about to hit. In contrast, Kaewkanjana kept his cool, his calm demeanor really setting him apart from the rest.Kaewkanjana has a chance to make history once again in a few rounds remaining in the 2025 British Open. A good ending may see his world ranking improve and he may emerge as one of the big guns.Also Read: Jon Rahm confronts whistling fan after tee shot goes wrong on brutal 11th hole at The OpenHis achievements would also boost the status of golf in Thailand, attracting more interests and funds. The other golfers of the world will also be on the edge of their seats, as he goes after the Claret Jug, as they are fascinated whether this monk-turned-golfer will come up with a splash with every swing of his club.