Golf is a sport played in the mind just as much as it is played with a golf ball and a set of clubs.

Combine that with the swirling conditions at Royal Portrush this week, and we have a perfect concoction for chaos.

Only those who are able to hold their nerve will thrive on this track, and that’s where one unexpected hero has emerged.

Sadom Kaewkanjana is a 27-year-old golfer from Thailand, who wrapped up his first round at the Open on Thursday tied in sixth place, posting a score of three-under-par.

While he may sit at No 262 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Kaewkanjana holds a rather unique ace up his sleeve that not many other players in the field can claim.

The Thai golfer, who spent a year playing in the LIV Golf League during its inaugural season in 2022, took time out of the game in 2023 to become an ordained Buddhist monk and practise meditation.

Prior to that, Kaewkanjana had clinched two victories on the Asian Tour and impressively finished T11 at the Open at St Andrews in 2022.

‘I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents,’ he said in 2023.

Becoming an ordained monk involves a significant commitment in which those practising Buddhism take vows and isolate themselves for extended periods of time to study the teachings of the Lord Buddha, known as the Dharma.

‘That made me feel calmer. I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my golf game,’ he added.

But this week has not been plain sailing for the 27-year-old, whose calm approach to life and golf was put to the test after his luggage went missing upon his arrival in the UK.

Thankfully, it was returned to him at 8pm on Wednesday - 15 hours before he teed off for his first round at Royal Portrush.

‘Being a monk helps me with my concentration, both on the golf course and away from the golf course,’ he explained, following his impressive performance on Thursday.

‘It has made me focus,’ he added.

Many in Thailand believe that when a man enters his 20s he should learn the teachings of the Lord Buddha and become ordained.

Kaewkanjana shaved his head, donned a traditional orange robe, a Kaseya, and admitted his pride at having taken on those extra responsibilities which he has twinned alongside his golf career.

‘It's my responsibility in Thailand, so I think it's a new experience being a monk,’ he said on Thursday.

‘[The teachings of Buddhism] help me concentrate on the golf course and outside the golf course. It's helped give me a lot of focus.’

When pressed on how he’ll use that to handle the pressures of playing at The Open, he explained: ‘Forget everything outside, just live in the present.

‘Stay in the present, just stay in my mind.’

And considering his performance on Thursday afternoon, you might struggle to believe the Thai star when he admitted that playing links golf was a ‘new experience for me’, adding that there aren’t many links courses back home in Thailand.

But the Bangkok native is relishing the challenge facing him and plans to soak up everything he can from the top players taking on Royal Portrush.

‘It's fun to play with a windy course and tough conditions. So I’m very much enjoying playing on a links course.’

Kaewkanjana qualified for The Open after he picked up his third win on the Asian Tour back in May at the Kolon Korea Open.

He dazzled fans on Thursday, carding an eagle on the par-four fifth hole, producing a stunning 328-yard drive to leave himself a 23ft putt, which Kaewkanjana comfortably drained for eagle.

And if anything speaks to just how focused the 27-year-old is, it was how he played the notorious par-three 16th. The hole is dubbed ‘Calamity Corner’ for a reason, having snared many of the world’s greatest players in the past. When The Open last visited Portrush in 2019, just 41 per cent of players found the green in regulation on the 16th, with Graeme McDowell telling Mail Sport that this is one of his ‘killer holes’ for the week.

While he couldn’t find the green with his drive, he produced a winding 21-yard putt from the left fringe to go down for birdie.

‘Very happy to make the birdie on this hole,’ he added.

A big finish this week in Northern Ireland, and perhaps even a victory, would be seismic for the Thai golfer, who also revealed his career dream.

‘My life goal is I want to play in the Masters,’ Kaewkanjana said.

‘I want to play one time. So to get in the world ranking into the top 50, that's my goal.’