What changed
Tom Kim won Asian Games golf gold for South Korea, finishing 18 under par and three strokes clear of Japan’s Kensei Higa, China’s Ding Wenyi and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.
The victory gives the 24-year-old world number 32 an exemption from South Korea’s usual 18 to 21 months of military service, apart from basic training.
Why it matters
For Kim, this is more than another trophy. It removes a major interruption from a career already producing four PGA Tour titles and a Scottish Open win in July.
South Korean men who are able-bodied generally serve before turning 28. Asian Games champions and Olympic medal-winners receive the exemption under the stated rules. Kim had narrowly missed that route at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he finished eighth.
The pressure showed in Japan. Kim had rushed from the Presidents Cup in the United States, carrying a 14-hour time difference and just six hours of sleep. He still built enough cushion with five birdies and an eagle before a nervous bogey at the 17th. The final par was all he needed.
The result also shows how sharply the rule can divide teammates. SH Kim, 28, won silver with South Korea in the team event alongside Tom Kim and Mun Do-yeob, but silver was not enough for the exemption. SH Kim missed out, while Tom Kim can continue his schedule with minimal disruption.
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