He may be only a couple of years shy of becoming eligible for golf’s Senior circuits. But Brad Kennedy isn’t quite ready to settle for the easy option.

That’s just not the way of the 48-year-old Australian who believes in pushing himself to the limits.

Which goes some way to explaining why Kennedy was less than impressed with his closing even-par 72 in the 150th Open Championship.

In the immediate aftermath of his round he reflected: “I’ve got to find a bit more. I’m 48 now, so I haven’t got much time left. I just really wanted to see what I could do this week. It just doesn’t get any better than St Andrews, 150th.

“I just wanted to prove to people that, if you fight and you work hard and put yourself out there, give yourself some opportunities, practise the right way, that at any stage anything’s possible. I felt like I let myself down on the weekend.”

A harsh assessment given that he finished ahead of many accomplished players and ended the week in a share of 53rd place on four-under 284.

Brad Kennedy of Australia

“I just wanted to put in a good effort. I wanted to see what I could do out there this week and put myself in a position that was new and challenging,” said the one-time Asian Tour winner who now spends most of his time playing in Japan.

“I did that on Friday and just haven’t hit enough good golf shots the last few days. Just kept giving myself too many long putts. Eventually you pay the price around a links course like St Andrews.

“I guess making the cut’s good, but finishing back end of the field on the weekend, shooting two 72s pretty much doesn’t really matter.”

Despite those words, Kennedy can take satisfaction from the fact that he was one of five Asian Tour members – from a 16-strong contingent that set out on Thursday – to play all four rounds at the home of golf.

The distinction of finishing as the leading Asian Tour player went to Sadom Kaewkanjana. The 24-year-old Thai fired a stunning closing 65 for a four-round tally of 11-under 277 and a share of 11th place.

That bettered the previous best finish by a Thai in The Open, equal 13th by Thongchai Jaidee at Turnberry in 2009. It was fitting that Thongchai, a mentor and idol to Sadom, should be at St Andrews to witness his protégé’s feat.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand

There was also an impressive effort from Yuto Katsuragawa. The 23-year-old Japanese signed for a 69 on Sunday to end on five-under 283, joint 47th. He was the leading Japanese, ahead of last year’s Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama.

Among those alongside Katsuragawa was Joohyung Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion. The 20-year-old Korean, already in the top-40 in the Official World Golf Ranking, closed with a 71 and will be determined to improve on that effort in the years to come.

Completing the Asian Tour quintet was England’s Laurie Canter, joint 79th on 290.

Like Kennedy, he was refreshingly honest. “I’m disappointed with how I played for sure. But the event as a whole, it felt like a really special week. I think the organisers did an amazing job and it’s been awesome to be a part of it. The competitor in me would want to play better, but I’ve loved being a part of it,” said Canter, who can now turn his full attention to another important forthcoming event.

“My wife’s due to give birth next week. We’re really excited about it. Hopefully all goes well and we’ll have a little one by the end of July,” he said.

Ends.

Inspired by the presence of Thongchai Jaidee behind the ropes, Sadom Kaewkanjana produced the round of his life to set the seal on a memorable week at the 150th Open Championship.

With his idol looking on approvingly, 24-year-old Sadom posted a closing seven-under-par 65 around the fabled Old Course.

Striding to the scoring hut as Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland prepared to tee-off, Sadom glanced up at the giant leaderboard alongside the 18th fairway. He almost had to pinch himself when he saw he was tied for fourth on 11-under.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand

“I played very well today. Everything was perfect,” said Sadom, whose victory in January’s SMBC Singapore Open propelled him to second place on last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit – and secured him his starting spot at the home of golf this week.

He grasped the opportunity with both hands, announcing his arrival on the world stage with rounds of 71 and 67. The disappointment of a third-day 74 served only to motivate him to finish strongly.

He was also spurred on by words of encouragement from Asian Tour legend Thongchai, who is in Scotland to compete in next week’s Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles.

“Thongchai has always been my idol. He gave me some great advice before the round and followed me around which inspired me,” said Sadom, who, nonetheless, was hoping his performance would be good enough to surpass Thongchai’s tied 13th finish at Turnberry in 2009, the best previous Open effort by a Thai.

Thongchai certainly would not begrudge his young compatriot that honour after watching him roll home six birdie putts and a 32-footer for an eagle-three at the long fifth.

The only blemish on Sadom’s card was a bogey-five at 17 where he left himself an awkward third shot from behind the famous Road Hole bunker and narrowly failed to get up-and-down.

“I like the course and I just felt very relaxed. All parts of my game were good, especially my putting, unlike yesterday when the pin locations made it very difficult.

“I’m happy if I can make Thai people proud,” added Sadom, whose only previous Major appearance came in May’s US PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Oklahoma, where he missed the cut.

As well as having Thongchai cheering him on, Sadom was delighted to be accompanied by his father. “My dad introduced me to golf when I was three years old. It’s special that he’s been here at St Andrews with me.”

Based on his strong showing here, Sadom is likely to break into the top-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

Before returning to Asian Tour action, Sadom will be heading Stateside for LIV Golf’s third event at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

“I’m looking forward to it. Playing well in Scotland has given me more confidence,” he said.

Ends.

Joohyung Kim will have a third successive day in the company of former Masters winner Patrick Reed.

Kim, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, fired a one-under-par 71 in the second round of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews on Friday.

With a 36-hole total of four-under 140, the talented 20-year-old enters the weekend in a share of 25th place, nine strokes off the pace being set by Australian Cameron Smith.

Kim will tee-off his third round at 1.25 pm local time (8.25 pm Singapore time) – alongside American Reed, with whom he was also paired for the first two rounds.

Kim was one of the five players from the Asian Tour’s 16-strong contingent in the starting line-up to survive the half-way which came at even-par 144.

Also looking forward to making their mark over the weekend at the home of golf are Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana (138, tied 12th); Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa (139, tied 18th); Australian Brad Kennedy (140, tied 25th) and England’s Laurie Canter (142, tied 46th).

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand

Sadom, winner of January’s SMBC Singapore Open, tees-off at 2.40 pm (9.40 pm Singapore time) with England’s Barclay Brown, the leading amateur.

Canter has an 11.50 am time alongside Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, while Katsuragawa partners Mexican Abraham Ancer at 2.20 pm. Kennedy will set out at 1.15 pm with Victor Perez of France.

“I’m a fair way back, but this place can do anything,” said 48-year-old Kennedy, winner of the New Zealand Open on the Asian Tour in 2020.

“The key for me around any tournament I’m playing now is to see how far can I push myself mentally to be able to hit the shots that are required to play under pressure. It feels like I’ve probably taken another step this week,” he added.

While Canter, Katsuragawa, Kennedy, Kim and Sadom will savour their time at St Andrews, there was disappointment for those that made an early exit.

It was especially galling for New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, South African Justin Harding and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, all of whom failed by a single stroke to make it through.

Three-under for the day through 14 holes, Campbell appeared well set but was derailed by bogeys at 15 and 17 as he signed for a 71 to go with his opening 74.

After a first-day 69, Vincent remained well positioned for much of day two only to see his good work undone by a double-bogey six at the 16th. Unable to find a birdie on either of the last two holes, he was left to rue what might have been.

Steering clear of the hazardous pot bunkers which dot the Old Course will continue to remain the prime objective for Sadom Kaewkanjana as he steps up his bid to create history over the weekend.

With a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in the second round of the 150th Open Championship, the 24-year-old Thai has thrust himself into contention for one of the biggest prizes in golf.

“It’s very amazing for me to be in this position,” said Sadom, who settled for a share of 12th place on six-under 138, making the halfway cut in what is his Open Championship debut.

Amazing indeed has been the way in which Sadom has battled back after slipping to one-over through 11 holes of the opening round. In the subsequent 25 holes, he’s nine-under.

“My first target was to make the cut,” said Sadom, who secured his ticket to St Andrews courtesy of his victory in January’s SMBC Singapore Open.

Now that he’s comfortably achieved that feat, his attention will turn to bettering the performance of Thongchai Jaidee, his idol and mentor. In 2009, Thongchai tied for 13th at Turnberry, to date the best finish by a Thai in the Open.

One of the finest players in the history of the Asian Tour, Thongchai was due to arrive in the United Kingdom last night ahead of his appearance in the Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles next week.

With Sadom flying high, Thongchai will make a detour to St Andrews to offer words of encouragement to his young compatriot.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand

“I’m looking forward to seeing Thongchai and getting advice from him. He’s my idol and has helped me a lot,” said Sadom, who knows that one of the keys to keeping alive hopes of a top-10 finish will depend on his ability to avoid the punishing sand traps around St Andrews.

“In the first two rounds I haven’t been in a single bunker,” he said. “I’ve been feeling confident on every shot. On the back nine in the second round I changed my gameplan. Because the wind direction changed, I was aiming further left off the tee and that worked.”

After four straight pars, Sadom went into red figures with a two-putt birdie at the long fifth. He picked up another stroke at the ninth where he got up-and-down after driving through the green.

On the back nine, he holed from 10 feet and 30 feet respectively for birdies at 14 and 16 before draining a 12-footer on the home green, to roars from the galleries lining the adjoining street.

In total, 16 Asian Tour members qualified to line-up in the 150th Open Championship.

He may have begun the week as a rank outsider, little-known beyond the borders of his home country. But as the second round of the 150th Open Championship was drawing to a close, the name of Yuto Katsuragawa was featuring prominently on the leaderboard at the home of golf.

Wielding a hot putter, the 23-year-old followed up an opening 71 with a four-under-par 68 over the fabled Old Course at St Andrews.

With more than half the field having completed 36 holes, Major championship debutant Katsuragawa found himself in a share of 15th position at five-under 139 – four strokes off the clubhouse lead being set by American Dustin Johnson.

“I’m surprised to be doing so well. I didn’t expect this,” admitted the Asian Tour member, who earned his starting spot here by finishing second in January’s SMBC Singapore Open.

“This is my first time in Scotland and my first time in Europe. I really came here just for the experience. I’m loving the atmosphere,” added Katsuragawa, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation’s Money List after a brilliant run of form in the past few months.

Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan

As well as winning the ISPS Handa Championship, he finished runner-up at the Token Homemate Cup and tied for second at the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup, co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

Holding court with the Japanese media after his second round, Katsuragawa made it clear that he’s keeping his expectations in check, at least publicly.

“I’m just glad to be here and to be part of the Japan team. For the weekend, I won’t be thinking about winning. I’ll just be focusing on each shot and trying my best,” he said.

With the cut projected to be made at even-par 144, several of the Asian Tour contingent were facing upto an early exit.

Among them were South African Shaun Norris (147), Japan’s Shugo Imahira (152) and Australian Jediah Morgan (155).

However, as early evening descended, Brad Kennedy, Joohyung Kim, Scott Vincent and Sadom Kaewkanjana were all well positioned to book their places for the final two rounds.

Joohyung Kim cut a disconsolate figure as he trudged off the 18th green at St Andrews. Despite signing for a three-under-par 69, the 20-year-old Korean was left to rue an untidy finish to his round, prompted by being handed a ‘bad time’.

For much of the opening morning at the 150th Open Championship, a broad smile had adorned the face of the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion. But his mood darkened after receiving a warning on the par-three 11th for taking too long over a shot.

“It was unfortunate. I needed to regroup and refocus but after that I felt I was rushing everything in order to stay on time,” said Kim.

Joohyung Kim of Korea

Nonetheless, he seemed to remain in control of his emotions when adding a fifth birdie of the day at the 15th. From there, though, his fortunes faltered as the threat of another bad timing loomed.

A dropped shot at the 16th – his first of the day – was followed by another bogey at 17, where he missed the green with his approach and failed to get up-and-down.

There was further frustration at the 18th, playing downwind and one of the easiest holes on the course where birdies were common currency.

Short of the green with his tee shot, Kim pitched onto the putting surface but could not convert the birdie opportunity.

Muttering to himself, there was no mistaking his disappointment and anger as he strode to the scorers’ hut.

Nonetheless, when he reflects on his first round in an Open Championship, Kim will have much to be pleased with.

“I hit a lot of good shots. Until the 18th hole I felt I played great,” said Kim, who was among the early pace-setters after picking up shots at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth to turn in four-under 32.

On the back of a third-place finish in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, Kim has soared to 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking and is feeling increasingly comfortable among the game’s elite.

Having ended as the leading Korean in 23rd spot at last month’s US Open, the next test for Kim is to see if he’s able to bounce back from today’s late adversity with another sub-70 return in round two at St Andrews.

Joohyung Kim of Korea

“I believe I can be up there – and that’s what I’ll be aiming for,” he said.

With almost half of the field having completed their first rounds, Kim was in joint seventh place, five strokes behind runaway leader Cameron Young of the United States, but just two adrift of second-placed Australian Cameron Smith.

Among those at four-under 68 was American Kurt Kitayama, who followed up his runner-up finish at last week’s Scottish Open with a bogey-free performance.

Kitayama is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He triumphed at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2018. Prior to his breakthrough in Mauritius, Kitayama won the PGM Darulaman Championship on the Asian Development Tour.

With a birdie-birdie finish, Sadom Kaewkanjana ensured his first Open Championship round ended in red figures.

“I’m very happy to birdie the last two holes,” said the 24-year-old Thai after signing for a one-under-par 71 over the Old Course at St Andrews.

“To be playing in the 150th Open Championship is a thrill for me. I was quite nervous at the start,” said Sadom, who appeared to be staring at an early exit after double-bogeys at the sixth and 11th saw him go to three-over.

But the winner of this year’s SMBC Singapore Open battled back gamely with birdies at 12 and 14 before staging a grandstand finish, holing a 15-footer at the Road Hole 17th and two-putting for a fifth birdie of the day after driving the green on the home hole.

Teeing-off at 6.46 am (local time) in the second flight of the day, Sadom set himself a 3.30 am wake up call.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand

Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he settled his early nerves with five straight pars before coming unstuck at the par-four sixth where he misjudged his pitching wedge approach and four-putted.

“I found it a little difficult with the wind, but I’m happy to shoot under par and feel more confident of making the cut now,” he said.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, playing in the same group as Sadom, will have his work cut out to progress to the weekend after carding a 74 that included a double-bogey six at 17.

One stroke better off is Korean Minkyu Kim, fifth in the current Asian Tour Order of Merit standings.

The 21-year-old, who booked his ticket to Scotland by winning last month’s Kolon Korean Open, was unable to take advantage of a solid start.

From a position of strength at one-under through 12, bogeys at 13 and 16 took the wind out of his sails.

In total, 16 Asian Tour members qualified to line-up in the 150th Open Championship.

Ends.