As wind and rain tested the patience of even the most seasoned golfers at Royal Portrush, one player maintained remarkable composure. Sadom Kaewkanjana’s world ranking may be an unassuming 262, but his Buddhist practice proved an unexpected advantage, helping the 27-year-old complete the first round of the 2025 Open Championship with a 3-under 68, just one stroke off the lead.

Sadom Kaewkanjana at Royal Portrush during the first round of the 2025 Open Championship, Northern Ireland, 17/7. Photo: AFP

Sadom Kaewkanjana at Royal Portrush during the first round of the 2025 Open Championship, Northern Ireland, 17/7. Photo: AFP

Sadom is a rising star in Thai golf with three Asian Tour victories, the most recent in May. In 2023, he decided to take a break from professional golf to study Buddhist teachings, meditate, and serve as a spiritual guide in his community. “I ordained to earn merit and show filial piety to my parents,” Sadom explained. “During my ordination, I was completely separated from the outside world. I became calmer, more focused, and as a result, my golf skills improved.”

Sadom showcased this newfound focus, completing the front nine at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland at 3-under, beginning with a birdie on the par-5 2nd. He followed this with an impressive 328-yard drive on the short par-4 5th, setting up a 28-foot eagle putt.

While competitors like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton struggled, Sadom remained steady. He shrugged off a bogey on the 11th and then secured a rare birdie at Calamity Corner, the challenging 236-yard par-3 16th.

After finding the relative safety of Bobby Locke’s Hollow left of the green, Sadom couldn’t contain his emotion after sinking the 63-foot putt. He has limited experience playing links courses—coastal courses known for their undulating terrain, numerous bunkers, and strong winds. This was only his second Open Championship appearance, following a tied-11th finish at St Andrews in 2022 under sunnier conditions.

“Actually, there are no links courses in Thailand,” Sadom said. “I really enjoy playing on links courses. It’s exciting to compete in such strong and challenging winds.”

Sadom’s perspective contrasted with many golfers at this year’s Open, as the initially favorable weather gave way to difficult conditions. Jason Day described the forecast as “some of the craziest weather I’ve ever seen” and joked that he “would love to be the weatherman here, because you’d always be wrong.” However, Sadom’s Zen-like focus proved crucial as the skies darkened over Royal Portrush.

“Meditation helps me focus both on and off the golf course,” Sadom shared. “It allows me to concentrate deeply, forget everything else, and just live in the present moment. That's why I really enjoy being a monk.” This equanimity likely helped him overcome the inconvenience of lost luggage on his trip to Northern Ireland for the tournament.

Sadom during his time as a monk. Photo: The Times

Sadom during his time as a monk. Photo: The Times

Sadom possesses both the skill and the mentality to maintain his performance. His feat on the 16th was a rare bright spot at Calamity Corner, one of the most notorious par-3s in golf. Strong winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean make hitting the green a significant challenge.

If the gorse bushes short of the green are described by the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) as a “yawning chasm,” the 50-foot drop to the right could be likened to a grave. As the wind picked up, it quickly claimed its first victim. Niklas Norgaard is a competent golfer, but his tee shot found the knee-high rough. The Danish golfer was relieved when his ball was located in a small bush, but a mishit recovery shot led to a double bogey.

From there, the calamities continued for other golfers. Of the next eight groups, the 16th yielded only two birdies while surrendering 10 bogeys and a double bogey. Cameron Young fared so poorly that he advanced his ball only 6 yards on his first attempt. Lee Westwood narrowly avoided a similar fate, salvaging a bogey. “I lost my grip and slipped at the same time, which wasn’t ideal,” he lamented. “Whenever the wind’s into you, it goes left, and it’s raining and the pin’s on the right, so it’s a tough shot.”

Hoang Thong (The Times)