JAPAN — Tom Kim held his nerve to claim gold at the Asian Games in Japan and secure an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service, firing a final-round 64 for a three-shot victory.
Kim took a narrow one-shot lead into the final round and seldom looked like relinquishing it, carding five birdies and an eagle to pull clear. He finished three strokes ahead of Japan's Kazuki Higa, China's Ding Wenyi and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana, who tied for second.
The win carries significance beyond the podium. Able-bodied South Korean males are usually required to perform 18 to 21 months of military service before the age of 28, though athletes can earn exempt status with success in major events. The government rewards Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any colour with an exemption barring basic training, which lasts less than a month.
Kim, 24, had entered the final round at the Paris Olympics in medal-winning position before fading to finish eighth. His Asian Games appearance came immediately after dashing away from the Presidents Cup last Sunday, where he beat Wyndham Clark in the Sunday singles. The quick turnaround followed the United States' Presidents Cup win last week. Kim has enjoyed a strong 2026, finishing third at the US Open and claiming the Scottish Open in July.
In the team event, Ding helped China to a narrow success over South Korea, meaning SH Kim missed out on the exemption earned by his teammate Tom Kim.