Shortly after his singles match ended last Sunday at the 2026 Presidents Cup, Tom Kim quickly got on a plane to Japan. That the Presidents Cup hadn’t officially ended didn’t matter to him.
Awaiting Kim at Japan’s Kasugai Country Club was what could very well be the most important tournament of his entire career: the 2026 Asian Games.
Why is the event so crucial for Kim, who already has four PGA Tour wins on his resume? Because if he or his South Korean team finish with the gold medal this week, Kim will be exempted 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, S.H. Kim eye gold medal to keep pro golf careers alive
In South Korea, most males are required to perform 18-21 months of military service at some point between the ages of 18 and 35.
And as long as you’re able-bodied, you have to serve. It doesn’t 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 in between events, pro golfers typically only have a few opportunities to earn the military exemption. Tom Kim came close at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where South Korean golfers need to medal to be exempted from service, 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 get within two shots of the lead at the halfway point. 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 one-shot back.
If Kim can hold on to the lead through 18 more holes, he will successfully claim the gold medal and be exempted from his military service.
But that’s not Kim’s only chance to earn the exemption at this week’s Asian Games, and he’s not the only PGA Tour veteran from South Korea in the field that’s trying to avoid military service.
Representing South Korea alongside Tom Kim at the Asian Games is S.H. Kim. S.H. Kim currently plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, and this week could be his last chance to get avoid interrupting his golf career for a lengthy stay in the military.
The good news for both Kims is that their South Korean team currently leads the team competition by one shot, too. If they claim the team gold, both players will get to continue their careers.
“I am 100% nervous, for sure. It’s a lot of pressure. I could stay on the PGA Tour (with a gold). That’s my goal,” S.H. Kim told BBC Sport.
Their third South Korean teammate, Mun Do-yeob, has already completed his military service.
The importance of the military exemption to the future of Tom and S.H. Kim’s golf careers cannot be overstated. It’s not easy to resume a pro golf career following 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 following the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Bae made his PGA Tour return in 2017, but he struggled mightily, eventually finishing 202nd in the FedEx Cup standings that year. His game and career have never fully recovered.
