‘It made me feel more calm' – Golf star says becoming an ordained monk helped him win spot in The Open at Royal Portrush
GOLF star Sadom Kaewkanjana credits becoming an ordained monk in helping him win a spot on the Open Championship.
Becoming an ordained monk is a rite of passage that is common for Thai men once they turn 20.
5
5
5
5
It involves individuals in Buddhist monasticism who take vows to formally be recognised as a member of the monastic community.
Duties include meditation, study of Buddhist teachings, upholding ethical precepts, and serving as spiritual leaders within the community.
In 2022, Kaewkanjana took a two-week hiatus from the sport to become an ordained monk.
By 2023, the Thai golfer was back in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill - but has not played on golf's biggest stage since.
He said at the time: 'I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents.
'During this time of ordination, it was of great value and experience, even though the ordination was a short period of time.
'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's major championship return is now set after he won the Asian Tour's Kolon Korea Open.
The 26-year-old earned his spot on the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July.
Bryson DeChambeau appears to punch himself in the face repeatedly live on Sky Sports in bizarre PGA Championship moment
The Kolon Korea Open is part of the Championship Qualifying Series, offering the winner a spot in golf's oldest major.
It is Kaewkanjana's first individual win since the 2022 Singapore Open - which got him into the Open at St. Andrews.
He said: 'It is a big honour to win this event; it's one of the biggest in the region.
'I tried to concentrate more than last three rounds, so I could do it. I'm very happy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Fleetwood shares lead with Scheffler and Thomas
Travelers Championship second round-9 S Scheffler (US), J Thomas (US), T Fleetwood (Eng); -8 J Day (Aus); -7 D McCarthy (US), A Eckroat (US); -6 N Taylor (Can), K Bradley (US)Selected others: -5 R McIlroy (NI); -3 H Hall (Eng); -2 R MacIntyre (Sco); +1 A Rai (Eng); +3 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +5 S Lowry (Ire); Full leaderboard Tommy Fleetwood made two eagles in a second-round 65 to take a share of the lead in the Travelers Championship in 34-year-old Englishman was one stroke better than his opening round and sits on nine-under par alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and his fellow American Justin who is searching for his first PGA Tour title, shot a modest level-par opening half but then surged up the field in the last six holes at TPC River eagled the par-five 13th by finding the green in two shots then sinking a 10-foot putt then holed out from the fairway with a 30-yard shot on the par-four 14th to pick up two more strokes.A 12-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th gave him a share of the lead."I've been having a good season and I felt like my game was in a really good place going into the US Open last week," Fleetwood told Sky Sports."For whatever reason - I'll never understand the game - I played really poorly but in golf there is always another week and this week is a big week."I came out motivated to take whatever there is to learn to make you better for the coming weeks and so far this week I'm happy with how I bounced back."Thomas reeled off five consecutive birdies in his six-under 64 while Scheffler carded a 69 to sit atop the number two Rory McIlroy, who was two off the first-round lead, had a frustrating day with a one-over 71 that dropped him to four made three bogeys in his opening four holes and turned in three-over 38, but three birdies in his next six holes recovered the damage.
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Reuters
Charlie Woods wins playoff to reach U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
June 20 - Charlie Woods qualified for his second straight U.S. Junior Amateur Championship with a clutch playoff win. With his famous father, 15-time major winner Tiger Woods in attendance, the 16-year-old Woods held off two other golfers to claim the final qualifying spot Thursday at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla. Woods shot a 1-under 71 but bogeyed the final hole to fall into a fifth-place tie with Oscar Crowe and Matthew Marigliano, forcing the playoff. Woods will join the top four finishers -- Arth Sinha (67), Lucas Gimenez (68), Sohan Patel (69) and Wylie Inman (69) -- at the U.S. Junior Amateur from July 21-26 at Trinity Forest in Dallas. Crowe and Marigliano will be alternates. Tiger Woods, 49, was a three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion before going on to win 82 PGA Tour titles. Charlie Woods, who missed the cut in last year's Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills in Michigan, won his first junior tournament title last month at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in Bowling Green, Fla. --Field Level Media
Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Expectations were already high for Royal Portrush 2025 – but they've gone to another level'
I am, of course, very proud and excited that Royal Portrush is hosting the 153rd Open Championship this July. The buzz around here is electric, and for good reason. We're not just preparing for a major golf tournament; we're getting ready to share the unique magic of Northern Ireland with the world. Hosting The Open here is a monumental undertaking, having experienced it all before in 2019, but this year we are stepping it up considerably from six years ago. It goes without saying that the ground staff and greenkeepers have been working so hard for months to get everything right for July. Years of planning go into every single detail to help us achieve the week we want. We work hand-in-glove with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to plan everything from crowd flow and transportation to player facilities and media ops. Royal Portrush is slightly different from other venues that have hosted The Open in that our 18th green has grandstands all around it, creating a real amphitheatre environment. And the players don't use the clubhouse here – they have their own area created for them, complete with restaurants, gyms and everything they could possibly need for their week at Portrush. It's like building a small city. The hospitality pavilion at the second green and third tee is new for this year and is a huge three-tiered structure. We're expecting almost 280,000 people here over the four days of competition. What happened at the Masters with Rory McIlroy winning in such dramatic fashion means everything has just cranked up another few notches – if that was even possible. So while our greenkeeping team works tirelessly to get the course in championship condition, there's security, traffic management, catering and volunteer coordination that all needs organising. Hundreds of volunteers give up their time, and they're the lifeblood of the event. And communication is key. Keeping everyone informed, from local residents to the thousands of spectators. It's a colossal effort, a real team effort. But seeing it all come together and witnessing the world's best players take on our course, that makes it all worthwhile. And if we have an event that's anything like 2019, we'll be in for a treat. When people ask me about the must-see holes here, I find it so tough to choose, but if I had to pick a couple, the fifth hole is a firm favourite. It's a short par four, just 370 yards from the elevated tee. You're driving downhill towards the sea, and then it dog-legs slightly to the green. The second shot is a treat – to the green perched right above Whiterocks beach. The views are simply stunning. You can see right out past Dunluce Castle all the way to the Giant's Causeway. It's an iconic hole, one you often see gracing magazine covers, and during The Open it's a real risk-reward challenge for the players. Spectators love watching them go for the green from the tee. But our most notorious hole – and one you'll see the spectators gather for in a more ghoulish way – is the 16th: Calamity Corner. From the championship tee, it's a 236-yard beast. It plays slightly uphill over a great chasm between the tee and the green. There are no bunkers here but, believe me, none are needed. There's plenty of danger there as it is. These two holes really encapsulate the challenge and beauty of Royal Portrush. Visitors will discover that Royal Portrush is truly unique. It's the setting. We are on the stunning Causeway Coast here and the coastline is just beautiful. The views are incredible—you can see across to Scotland and right across Donegal. From a golf course perspective, we're fortunate to have quite a deep site. Most links courses are quite low-lying and narrow, but we have a wide site, and the land moves in different directions. No two holes run consecutively in the same direction on the Dunluce Links, and there are quite a few elevation changes, which is unique for a links course. This means plenty of opportunities for spectacular views and scenery while you play. Beyond Royal Portrush, this region is a golfing treasure trove. I love playing other courses like Royal County Down, where I trained as a club professional in the 1990s, and the new St Patrick's Links at Rosapenna. Away from golf, there's so much to do. We're spoiled for choice. Being in the pro shop, I get to hear what visitors love, and it's always the Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. But they love the coastline too, all the way to Ballycastle because it is so stunning. You're spoilt for choice when it comes to food – Portrush Harbour is a real foodie hotspot. My favourite restaurant there is Mermaid, which serves up amazing seafood dishes, but Neptune & Prawn, a casual Asian food and drink bar, is also great, and the Harbour Bistro is also very popular. Wash that down with a drink at the Springhill Bar on Causeway Street – it hosts traditional Irish music nights, which are a big hit with both the locals and tourists. Further afield you have all the Game of Thrones filming locations, such as Ballintoy Harbour, while Rathlin Island, with its wildlife and rugged beauty, is also a must-see. If you're a true die-hard fan of the show you can also take the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge. Visitors are absolutely spoiled for things to do and see. A week is not enough – especially if you are here in Open week and there's golf to watch too! There was a real legacy from the 148th Open when it was held here in 2019. The impact is still being felt. Shane Lowry's incredible win inspired the next generation of golfers for sure. Combined with what Rory has already achieved even before his Masters win this year, and it really encourages young people to get into the game. We do a lot of work in local schools, and it's wonderful to see so many young people inspired by The Open and the opportunity to see the best players in the world right here. Hosting The Open is a privilege, and sharing this special place with visitors is a joy. They are truly lucky to experience the beauty and magic of Royal Portrush and the Causeway Coast. Golf offers and packages For island of Ireland golf offers and packages visit our partners at: Golf Escapes, Golf Escapes – Northern Ireland, Your Golf Travel, Golfbreaks & Golfbreaks – Northern Ireland
