Shortly after his singles match ended last Sunday at the Presidents Cup 2026Tom Kim immediately on a plane to Japan. That the Presidents’ Cup wasn’t officially over didn’t matter to him.
Awaiting Kim at Japan’s Kyosugai Country Club was what might be the most important tournament of his entire career: the 2026 Asian Games.
Because the event is so crucial for Kim, he already has four PGA Tour wins on his resume? Because if he or his South Korean team ends up with the gold medal this week, Kim will be exempt from nearly two years of mandatory military service.
And with one round to go, Kim is in the lead.
Here’s what you need to know.
Tom Kim, SH Kim eye gold medal to keep professional golf career alive
In South Korea, most males are required to do 18-21 months of military service at some point between the ages of 18 and 35.
And as long as you are able to body, you have to serve. No matter how promising your non-military career is.
However, there are a few exemptions for athletes who successfully win on behalf of their country in major international sporting events. For golf, those events include the Olympics and the Asian Games, both of which are held every four years.
Given the long stretches between events, professional golfers usually have only a few opportunities to earn a military exemption. Tom Kim approached the 2024 Olympics in Pariswhere South Korean golfers need to medal to be exempt from duty, but he eventually finished T8.
At 24 years old, this year’s event is one of the few remaining opportunities where Kim can claim the exemption, but he needs to win or have his team win.
So far, so good.
Over the first two rounds this week, Kim went 67-66 to reach seven under and reach within two shots of the leader at the halfway mark. Then in Round 3, Kim made a big move, shooting a 65 to charge into the solo lead at 12 under with two players tied at one shot.
If Kim can keep his head through 18 more holes, he will claim the gold medal and be exempt from his military service.
But it’s not Kim’s only chance to earn an exemption at this week’s Asian Games, and he’s not the only PGA Tour veteran from South Korea in the field trying to avoid military service.
Representing South Korea alongside Tom Kim at the Asian Games is SH Kim. SH Kim is currently playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, and this week could be his last chance to avoid interrupting his golf career with a long stint in the military.
The good news for the two Kims is that their South Korean team also leads the team competition by a stroke. If they claim team gold, both players could continue their careers.
“I’m 100% nervous, of course. It’s a lot of pressure. I can stay on the PGA Tour (with a gold). That’s my goal,” SH Kim said BBC Sport.
His third fellow South Korean, Mun Do-yeob, has already completed his military service.
The importance of the military exemption to the future of Tom and SH Kim’s golf career cannot be overstated. It is not easy to resume a professional golf career after a two-year absence.
Sangmoon Bae is a good example of that.
After winning two PGA Tour events in 2013 and 2014, Bae was forced to begin his mandatory military service in South Korea immediately after the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Bae made his PGA Tour comeback in 2017, but struggled mightily, finishing 202nd in the FedEx Cup standings that year. His game and career never fully recovered.
