Buddhist monk Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/buddhist-monk/ Golf Instruction, Equipment, Courses, Travel, News Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:15:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/gd-favicon.ico Buddhist monk Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/buddhist-monk/ 32 32 Sadom Kaewkanjana returns to action on Asian tour after time out as a Buddhist monk https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/sadom-kaewkanjana-returns-to-action-on-asian-tour-after-time-out-as-a-buddhist-monk/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/sadom-kaewkanjana-returns-to-action-on-asian-tour-after-time-out-as-a-buddhist-monk/#respond Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:14:06 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=69423 Kaewkanjana always exudes calmness and composure but at this week’s Indonesia Open that will be even more apparent as, just last month, the Thai star concluded his two-week monkhood

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Sadom Kaewkanjana always exudes calmness and composure but at this week’s Indonesia Open that will be even more apparent as, just last month, the Thai star concluded his two-week monkhood.

With the main aim of giving his family considerable credit, he was ordained a monk for a short period of time, something Thai men, after they turn 20, often chose to do, entering a monastery to study dharma — the teachings of Buddha.

“I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,” said Sadom, who tees off in Indonesia’s National Open on Thursday at Pondok Indah Golf Course. “During this time of ordination, it was of great value and experience, even though the ordination was a short period of time.”

As was well documented, in 2017, his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond went through the same process and a month later he won his first event on the Asian Tour — the Bangladesh Open.

Said Jazz at the time: “They [the monks] just make you see things in a different perspective. Golf is not the biggest thing in your life.”

And, back in 2014, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the Asian Tour No. 1 at the time, also swapped his golfing attire for a robe to be ordained a monk for a week.

Sadom will be hoping the special spiritual experience has a positive effect on the golf course. He is currently in sixth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM), following a strong start to the year, which saw him place fourth in the season-opening Saudi International, and then joint second in the International Series Oman, the following week.

However, he has missed the cut in his last three events and will be looking to bounce back this week in an event that marks the start of the second half of the season.

He said: “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.”

His time in the temple required him to shave his head and eyebrows, wake up at 4.30am, meditate, and clean the temple grounds, eating just one meal a day.

The 25-year-old is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour; the first coming in the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2019, before he recorded a famous win in one of Asia’s most prestigious events, the Singapore Open in 2022.

The second victory was expected to open the floodgates to more success but while he has regularly been in contention since then, and finished third on last year’s OOM, a third win has been elusive so far.

That could change this week, though, with the supremely talented golfer, boasting a textbook swing, seeing the world and his ambitions in the game in a different light.

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/sadom-kaewkanjana-returns-to-action-on-asian-tour-after-time-out-as-a-buddhist-monk/feed/ 0 Sadom Kaewkanjana puts down clubs to spend time as Buddhist monk https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/sadom-kaewkanjana-puts-down-clubs-to-spend-time-as-buddhist-monk/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/sadom-kaewkanjana-puts-down-clubs-to-spend-time-as-buddhist-monk/#respond Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:26:15 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=68771 Sadom Kaewkanjana is taking a different approach to improve his mental game.

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There are many critical skills that are required as a professional golfer, but nothing matters more than being cool, calm and collected. While the world’s best golfers in make their way to England for the Open Championship, one pro decided to make a different trip … a spiritual journey of meditation and enlightenment that might just provide some mental assistance to his golf game.

Sadom Kaewkanjana took advantage of the Asian Tour’s mid-season break, as the Thai pro decided to go on a spiritual retreat, living as a Buddhist monk. Just one year ago, Kaewkanjana had a strong showing at St. Andrews, finishing T-11 thanks to a blistering final-round 65. This is a decidedly different way to spend the summer, but it looks equally meaningful.

The World No. 117 is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and even held off Tom Kim at last year’s Singapore Open, which is how he wound up with a spot at the 150th Open. The 25-year-old even tee’d off in the last two PGA Championships. With all this meditation and introspection, he’s certainly someone to watch out for in future majors.

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