The stakes were high
Golf pro Tom Kim just pulled off a massive W at the Asian Games in Japan, and it’s about way more than just the trophy. By taking gold, the 24-year-old secured an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service, which usually requires able-bodied men to serve 18 to 21 months before they hit 28.
How he got it done
The road to the gold wasn't exactly a vacation. Kim literally flew straight from the Presidents Cup in the U.S. to the Kasugai Country Club. We’re talking 14 hours of time difference and only six hours of sleep—the sheer main character energy required to perform under those conditions is honestly impressive.
He entered the final round with a lead and kept it, dropping a six-under-par 64 to win by three strokes. He had a slight moment on the 17th with a bogey, but after five birdies and an eagle, he had enough cushion to cruise through the final hole.
Why it matters
Real talk: this is a huge career-saver. With this win, Kim avoids a long service break, meaning he can keep grinding on the PGA Tour where he already has four titles and a recent Scottish Open win under his belt. It’s a move we’ve seen before—footballer Son Heung-min famously used his own Asian Games gold to snag a similar exemption back in 2020. Kim had been chasing this goal for a while, narrowly missing out on the exemption after placing eighth at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sometimes the plot thickens before the payoff, but this time, he finally secured the bag.
