The International team is on the verge of winning the Presidents Cup for the second time in its history. Tom Kim has been a key player, accruing three out of four possible points at Medinah. However, he may miss the final moments as he heads to Japan to compete in the Asian Games starting Wednesday at Kasugi Country Club.
A victory in the Presidents Cup would be significant for Kim, but success at the Asian Games offers a greater reward. A gold medal in the individual or team events in Japan would exempt Kim from mandatory military service in South Korea.
South Korean law requires most able-bodied men to complete 18 to 21 months of military service. Exceptions are granted to athletes and classical artists who achieve international success. Winning any Olympic medal or a gold medal at the Asian Games qualifies for such exemptions.
Kim, born in Seoul, narrowly missed a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, falling short by four strokes after a final-round 68. Scottie Scheffler secured the gold medal in Paris. Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim earned a gold for South Korea in the team event at the 2023 Asian Games.
This year, Kim joins Do-yeob Moon and S.H. Kim on the South Korean team at the Asian Games. The 24-year-old, a four-time PGA Tour winner, is one of four players on the International team who played in all four sessions of the Presidents Cup.
Kim is set to fly to Japan late on Sunday afternoon, where he will face Wyndham Clark in Sunday’s singles matches.
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