In brief
Tom Kim captured the Asian Games men’s golf title, finishing 18 under par to beat Japan’s K Higa by three strokes. His score of 64 in the final round gave him a comfortable margin that saved him 18‑21 months of mandatory service. The exemption allows him to keep competing on the PGA Tour, where he has already won four titles. Kim’s victory follows a tight drive from the U.S. Presidents Cup and a heavy jet lag comeback to play in Japan. The win also marks the latest instance of a Korean athlete using sporting success to avoid military duty, a rare privilege granted to Asian Games champions.
Tom Kim’s Asian Games gold secures a likely exemption from South Korea’s compulsory military service.
Kim finished the men's golf event with an impressive 18‑under‑par score, shooting a final‑round 64 to beat Japan’s K Higa by three strokes.
Despite a brief bogey on the 17th, the 24‑year‑old maintained a three‑stroke cushion and parred the 18th, prompting a relieved roar from the crowd.
Under South Korean law, men traditionally serve 18‑21 months until age 28. However, the government grants an exemption for Asian Games champions, allowing them to complete only a short basic training period.
Kim’s triumph follows a recent 14‑hour jet lag trip from the Presidents Cup in the United States and a mere six hours of sleep before the Kasugai Country Club competition. He has already earned four PGA Tour titles, including a Scottish Open win in July, and his exemption will let him continue his global career without interruption.
Earlier medalists such as Tottenham striker Son Heung‑min have received similar short‑term service terms after winning the Asian Games in 2022. Kim’s victory adds to a growing list of Korean athletes who use international success to avoid lengthy military obligations.
