In brief
Tom Kim surprised fans by winning the Asian Games golf gold in Nagoya, finishing 18 under and earning a brief military exemption. The victory saves him 18‑21 months of mandatory service and lets him keep his career momentum. After a grueling flight and a night of little sleep, Kim’s win is a key moment for his world‑ranking and future tournaments.
Gold, Glory, & a Military Break
South Korea’s Tom Kim stormed the final round at the Asian Games in Nagoya, ending with a 64 that put him 18 under par. He beat Japan’s K Higa, China’s Ding, Thailand’s Kaewkanjana and Chinese Taipei’s Wang by three strokes.
That golden moment means Kim gets a service exemption – a handful of weeks that takes him out of the 18‑21 month compulsory military stint and back into the PGA Tour.
For 24‑year‑old Kim, who’s already won four PGA titles, the break lets him focus on his career and keep his world ranking high. He had only six hours of sleep after flying from the UK, so the win was a hard‑earned victory.
Similar cases, like former Tottenham star Son Heung‑min who served just three weeks after the 2020 Asian Games, show how sports can fast‑track life in South Korea.
Now Kim can hit the links again and chase more world titles without a military detour.
