Home / Sports / Golf Star Dodges Military Duty with Asian Games Gold
Golf Star Dodges Military Duty with Asian Games Gold
3 Oct
Summary
- Tom Kim won Asian Games gold, exempting him from military service.
- He secured the exemption with an 18-under-par performance.
- This win preserves his professional golf career timeline.
Professional golfer Tom Kim recently secured an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games. Kim shot a final round 6-under 64 to finish at 18-under-par, achieving this crucial victory just before his 28th birthday, the age by which able-bodied men must enlist.
This win is significant as a lengthy military hiatus, typically 18 to 21 months, has historically impacted golfers' careers negatively. Kim's exemption allows him to continue his professional career without such a break, a critical development given his recent resurgence in form.
After a period where his game and rankings declined, Kim found renewed success in May of this year, with a third-place finish at the U.S. Open and a victory at the Scottish Open. His strong play culminated in a spot at the Tour Championship and an impressive performance at the Presidents Cup the previous week, where he led the International team.
Previous examples like Sangmoon Bae and Seung-yul Noh illustrate the challenges golfers face after military service. Doyeob Mun is noted as having found some success post-service, playing in LIV Golf and winning events in Asia. Kim's achievement averts a similar, potentially career-altering, interruption.
