Sadom Kaekwanjana put forth a starring showcase during the first round of the 2025 British Open.
The Thai golfer was composed atop the links at Royal Portrush, showing few signs of fear as he faced one of golf’s most venerable venues.
The result was magic: fueled by a barrage of booming drives and delicate putts, Kaewkanjana posted a three-under-par, putting him one stroke off the lead when he returned to the clubhouse.
Some could say Kaewkanjana’s showing was divine intervention. The 27-year-old is a fixture in the Asian Tour, proving himself one of the best golfers to emerge from Thailand’s golden shores.
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That’s not a coincidence, either. Kaewkanjana isn’t only a standout golfer. He’s also an ordained Buddhist monk. Those identities aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, Kaewkanjana believes his two paths converge with one another in a very intentional way.
“It’s made me [develop] a lot of focus,” Kaewkanjana said after Round 1. “Forget everything outside, just live in the present. So I really enjoy being a monk.”
With that, here’s what you need to know about Kaewkanjana’s compelling past — and how it’s aided his professional career.
Why Sadom Kaewkanjana took golf hiatus to be a Buddhist monk
Kaekwkanjana’s journey from the links to the monastery reflected a commitment to his parents and a desire to develop a greater sense of focus on and off the course.
“I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,” Kaewkanjana said, per NBC Sports.
“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.”
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Kaekwanjana was already a sporting star in his home country, having qualified for the British Open at St. Andrews less than 12 months before his retreat. He placed T-11 in the tournament, making him something of a household name in the Southeast Asian golfing scene.
Where is Sadom Kaewkanjana from?
Kaewkanjana hails from Thailand. He came to prominence on the plains that paint the Southeast Asian country’s landscape, claiming 10 professional wins, five of which came on the All Thailand Golf Tour.
Sadom Kaewkanjana age
Kaewkanjana is 27 years old. He turned 27 on July 6.
The Thai golfer showed an aptitude for clobbering drives from a young age; he picked up three wins as an amateur before turning pro in 2018.
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Sadom Kaewkanjana career history
Kaewkanjana came through the Asian Tour qualifying school, making his Asian Tour debut as a 20-year-old. He made his maiden start on the Tour a memorable one; Kaewkanjana picked up the Bangabandhu Cup title after posting a 19-under-par 265 in 2019. With his win, he became the fastest qualifying school graduate to claim gold on the Tour.
In the years since, Kaewkanjana has added two more Asian Tour wins into his collection. The second of those titles — the 2022 SMBC Singapore Open crown — landed him a spot at St. Andrews. He showed out in the 2022 British Open, posting an 11-under-par 277, good for 11th in the final leaderboard.
There are few places that Kaewkanjana is more efficient at than in his home country. His displays in the All Thailand Golf Tour have netted him five wins as well as the 2021 Order of Merit award as the Tour’s best player.
Sadom Kaewkanjana major history
Kaewkanjana has four major tournament appearances to his name. He’s fallen short of the cut on two occasions — at the 2022 and 2023 PGA Championships. At the British Open, he’s found more success — his standout showing at St. Andrews made him a star in the Asian Tour, while his showing thus far at Royal Portrush has him in rarefied air.
Here is a comprehensive look at Kaewkanjana’s major championship results over the years.
| Year | Tournament | Finish |
| 2022 | British Open | T-11th |
| 2022 | PGA Championship | CUT |
| 2023 | PGA Championship | CUT |
| 2025 | British Open | TBD |
