Buddhist Monk Sadom Kaewkanjana's Clear Message Amid The Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2025 Open Championship is officially underway at Royal Portrush. While the spotlight is on big names like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, a surprising contender is quietly making waves, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana.

At first glance, Sadom Kaewkanjana, who shot 3-under 68 Thursday, appears to be one of those random names that usually appears near the top of the leaderboard early at an Open Championship. But his story is far from mundane.

Sadom Kaewkanjana is a 27-year-old pro from Thailand who has gotten into contention at the British Open . He shot 3-under 68 to finish one shot off the lead at the time his round concluded, behind Matthew Fitzpatrick,