Buddhist Monk on The Open leaderboard as he soars at Portrush despite lost luggage and reveals ultimate golf dream
Sadom Kaewkanjana brought his Buddhist monk focus into a flying Open start.
The Thai star carded an excellent day-one 68 at Royal Portrush to thrust onto the leaderboard.
Kaewkanjana took a break from golf in 2023 to live as a Buddhist monk and practice mediation having come tied-11th the previous year in The Championship at St Andrews.
Speaking after his opening round, the 27-year-old said: 'Yeah, it's my responsibility in Thailand, so I think it's a new experience being a Monk.
"They help your concentration on the golf course or outside the golf course. It's made me focus. Forget everything outside, just live in the present. So I really enjoy being a Monk. Stay in the present, just stay in my mind.
'Honestly, I play in my country, I haven't played on a links course before. So when I play a links course, it's a new experience for me. I really enjoy to play a links course. It's fun to play with a windy course and tough conditions.
Kaewkanjana's effort was even more impressive given his preparations had been hampered by lost luggage on the way to Northern Ireland.
He said: 'Finally. I got it back yesterday around 8pm. Just one [suitcase]. Very happy. I travel a lot around Asia.
"I like to travel in Asia and maybe in Europe, so I really enjoy to play professional golf, very excited to watch the top players play in the same conditions, same golf course and learn how to play like them.'
Kaewkanjana's ultimate golfing dream is to get himself to Augusta one April as he said: 'My goal has been 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.'
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