Overview
- Kaewkanjana carded a three-under-par 68 in Round 1, tying for fourth place and sitting one stroke off the lead at Royal Portrush.
- He is the only ordained Buddhist monk in this year’s Open field and credits monastic silence and meditation with sharpening his mental game.
- His spot at the Open was secured by winning May’s Kolon Korea Open, part of the R&A’s Open Qualifying Series.
- He claimed three Asian Tour titles, earned 2019 Rookie of the Year honors and finished tied for 11th at the 2022 Open Championship.
- Kaewkanjana aims to break into the world’s top 50 and earn a Masters invitation, citing his monk-trained calm under pressure as key to his ambitions.