Tom Kim going from Presidents Cup to Asian Games with chance to be exempt from military service

Medinah, Illinois - Tom Kim, a South Korean golfer on the International team competing in the Presidents Cup, may miss the final outcome on Sunday. With the team having the opportunity to win the prestigious event after 28 years, Kim's participation appears uncertain. The following week, he heads to Japan to participate in the Asian Games, where gold or team medal results could exempt him from mandatory military service.

Three South Korean golfers, including Kim, are participating in the Asian Games, starting on Wednesday at Kasugi Country Club. The source confirms Kim will depart for Japan late Sunday afternoon, but he was unavailable Saturday after a loss in the foursomes match. This is not Kim's first Olympic experience; he nearly secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Paris Olympics when he started the final round four shots behind and finished with a 68.

At 24 years old, he has the chance to earn another Olympic medal in Los Angeles in 2028. Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men must serve 18-21 months in the military, with exemptions granted for athletes who excel in international competitions that hold national significance. For athletes, this includes any Olympic medal or a gold medal at the Asian Games.

When selected for the South Korean team, Kim was ranked 144th in the world. Since then, he has won the Scottish Open, finished third in the U.S. Open, and is currently ranked 31st globally. The other athletes chosen for the South Korean team are S.H. Kim, who initially played on the PGA Tour and had to return to South Korea in April, and Do-yeob Moon.

The Asian Games, previously an amateur event, allowed professionals for the last edition held in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim as the professional participants. South Korea triumphed in the team competition by a margin of 25 strokes. On Sunday, Kim will play in the second of 12 matches at Medinah Country Club, starting at 11:14 a.m. local time against U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark.