Thai Golfer Draws Divine Inspiration from Buddhism
- 23 thg 7, 2025
- 3 phút đọc
Đã cập nhật: 24 thg 7, 2025
IRELAND – While many fellow players lost their composure, Thailand’s world No. 262 Sadom Kaewkanjana remained calm and sank a 63-foot putt at the treacherous "Calamity Corner," finishing just one shot off the lead at the 2025 Open Championship.
As wind and rain tested even the finest golfers’ patience at Royal Portrush, one man stood out with remarkable poise. Ranked 262nd in the world, Sadom Kaewkanjana surprised many with his serene presence—a quality he credits to his Buddhist faith. The 27-year-old Thai golfer completed his first round at The Open 2025 with a score of 68, three-under-par and just one stroke behind the leader.
His ability to maintain composure amid brutal conditions wasn’t just mental toughness—it was spiritual discipline. In a tournament where nerves unraveled even seasoned champions, Sadom’s tranquil demeanor and focused mindset gave him a rare edge, honed through years of Buddhist practice.
Sadom Kaewkanjana, a rising star of Thai golf and three-time Asian Tour champion, has taken an unconventional path to elite competition. In 2023, the 27-year-old paused his professional career to immerse himself in Buddhist teachings, meditation, and service as a spiritual guide within his community. “I entered monkhood to make merit and repay my parents,” Sadom shared. “During that time, I disconnected completely from the outside world. It brought me calm and focus—something that’s significantly improved my golf game.”
Sadom’s newfound composure was on full display during the first round at Royal Portrush, where he carded a remarkable 68, three under par. He began strongly with a birdie on the par-5 second hole, followed by a 328-yard drive on the short par-4 fifth, setting up a 28-foot eagle putt.
While players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton struggled with the swirling winds and growing tension, Sadom remained steady. Despite a bogey on the 11th, he clinched a rare birdie at the notoriously difficult Calamity Corner—Royal Portrush’s par-3 16th, measuring 236 yards. After landing in Bobby Locke’s Hollow left of the green, he drained a sensational 63-foot putt, a highlight made even more impressive by his limited experience on links courses.
“This is only my second Open Championship,” said Sadom, who finished tied for 11th at St Andrews in 2022 under more forgiving weather. “We don’t have links courses in Thailand, so this is all new for me. But I love playing in tough, windy conditions. It’s fun.”
Sadom’s positive mindset contrasts with many players at The Open this year. As early calm gave way to brutal conditions, players like Jason Day called the forecast “the craziest I’ve ever seen,” joking, “I’d love to be a weather forecaster here—because you’d always be wrong.” In such chaos, Sadom’s Zen-like focus proved invaluable.
“Meditation helps me focus, both on and off the course,” he explained. “It brings me to the present moment. I forget everything else. That’s why I enjoy being a monk.”
That same calm demeanor likely helped Sadom shrug off travel mishaps—he arrived in Northern Ireland without his luggage. But it’s clear his mental game, rooted in Buddhist practice, may be the secret weapon guiding him toward a breakthrough at The Open 2025.
Sadom possesses both skill and mental strength to maintain his form. The miracle he created at the 16th hole was one of the rare highlights at Calamity Corner — one of the most notorious par-3 holes in the golf world. With strong winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean, the green hit rate at this hole is extremely low.
If the dense shrub in front of the green is described by The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) as a “deep, gaping pit,” then the 50-foot ravine to the right is akin to a grave. As the wind picked up, the hole soon claimed its first victim. Niklas Norgaard, a highly capable golfer, saw his tee shot land deep in knee-high bushes. The Danish golfer was relieved when the ball was found in a small bush, but a mishit on the next shot led to a double bogey.
From there, disaster unfolded for several other players. Among the next eight groups, the 16th yielded only two birdies, while collecting 10 bogeys and a double bogey. Cameron Young fared so poorly that his first attempt sent the ball just six yards. Lee Westwood narrowly avoided a similar fate, managing to save a bogey. "I lost grip of the club and slipped at the same time — definitely not ideal conditions," he lamented. "Whenever the wind blows in, the ball drifts left, it rains, and the pin is set on the right — it's just too tough a shot."
Hoàng Thông (according to The Times)
(Source: vnexpress.net
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