Asian Games – Final Round
-18 T Kim (KOR); -15 K Higa (JPN), W Ding (CHN), S Kaewkanjana (THA); -11 W-H Wang (TPE)
Tom Kim captured the gold medal at the Asian Games, securing a coveted exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service.
The 24-year-old entered the final round with a lead and delivered a superb six-under-par 64 to finish at 18 under, winning by three strokes. A brief wobble with a bogey on the 17th hole did little to dent his comfortable margin; after five birdies and an eagle earlier in the round, Kim tapped in for par on the 18th and let out a roar of relief.
Able-bodied South Korean men are typically required to serve 18 to 21 months in the military before turning 28. However, the government grants an exemption—reduced to only basic training of a few weeks—to Asian Games champions and Olympic medalists of any color.
Previous beneficiaries include football star Son Heung-min, who completed just three weeks of training in 2020 after winning Asian Games gold with South Korea in 2018.
Kim rushed from the Presidents Cup in the United States to tee off at Kasugai Country Club in Japan, contending with only six hours of sleep and a 14-hour time difference. The effort paid off: the world No. 32, who already owns four PGA Tour titles and a victory at the Scottish Open in July, can now continue his career with minimal disruption.
Kim had come close to an exemption at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he shared the first-round lead before finishing eighth. His compatriot S.H. Kim, 28, missed out on the same privilege as South Korea settled for silver in the team event alongside Tom Kim and Mun Do-yeob, who has already fulfilled his service obligation.