Tom Kim was a relieved man after tapping in for par in the last hole of the men’s golf competition in the 2026 Asian Games at Kasugai Country Club.
The South Korean did not just win the gold medal, he also secured an exemption from mandatory military service.
Kim surges in final round
Kim, whose Korean name is Kim Joo-hyung, shot a final-round, 6-under-par 64 to finish at 18-under 262 after four rounds of action, winning by three shots over Japanese Kazuki Higa, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana and Chinese Ding Wenyi.
World number 32 Kim not only conquered the Kasugai Country Club course, he added the win to his superb career which already includes an Asian Tour order of merit crown and four PGA Tour titles.
The win means Kim will not take the 18-month to 24-month service in the military as required in South Korea, and will instead have a four-week light basic training as a rewrd for his victory.
Under South Korean law, able-bodied males are usually required to perform between 18 months and two years of military service before the age of 28.
But Seoul rewards Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any color with an exemption.
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‘The longest day in my life’
Kim was relieved after holing out his last shot on the 18th hole and was mobbed by his teammates as they draped him the South Korean flag and doused him in water.
Reflecting on the win, he told reporters: “It’s a crazy feeling. I’m just glad it’s over. This day was the longest day I think I’ve ever had in my life. I’m just glad it’s done.”
Meanwhile, Higa claimed the silver medal after a birdie on the fourth hole of the three-way playoff.
Sadom gained the bronze over Ding in a sudden-death playoff.
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