Clutch: Tom Kim wins Asian Games gold medal and an exemption from 18 months of mandatory military service

Think about the worst pressure you’ve ever felt at work. Now imagine the final round of a tournament where a win means you skip 18 months of mandatory military service and a loss means you’re heading to the barracks. That’s what Tom Kim was staring at in the final round of the 2026 Asian Games, and he went out and fired a 64 to win gold.

In South Korea, most able-bodied men have to serve 18 months in the military. Athletes can get out of it two ways: win a gold medal at the Asian Games or win any medal at the Olympics.

Kim already had one shot at it in Paris in 2024 and came up just short, finishing eighth at Le Golf National. This time he didn’t leave any doubt. He finished at 18 under and won by three strokes, and now all he has to do is four weeks of basic training.

Tom Kim wins the Asian Games Gold Medal

Tom Kim wins the Asian Games Gold Medal in golf 🥇

MILITARY EXEMPTION 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/HkaWIWqlpn

— JM (@josh_mills_) October 3, 2026

Tom Kim Had A Wild Month

What makes this even crazier is how he got there. Kim went straight from the Presidents Cup, where he played a ton of golf, right into the Asian Games. No rest and no time to recharge before the biggest round of his life.

It didn’t matter. He came out on fire, going 4-under 31 on the front nine, added a birdie on 11 and made another big move on the par-5 13th at Kasugai Country Club. He had a four-shot lead with four holes left, dropped just one stroke coming in and closed it out.

Kim said afterward that he tried not to think about the exemption and just played for his country. That’s the difference between us and someone like Tom Kim.

Most people would crumble with that much on the line. He holds the lead, gets it done and walks away with a gold medal and his next 18 months back.

The Team Came Up Short:

South Korea didn’t have the same luck in the team competition. Kim’s 64 paired with a 70 from Doyeob Mun, but China went 64 and 66 on the final day to win by two strokes, leaving South Korea with silver. Mun, 35, had already finished his military service, so it didn’t change anything for him.

Kim also joins a couple of his Presidents Cup International teammates who got out of service the same way. At the 2022 Asian Games, which were actually played in 2023, Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim both earned their exemptions by winning team gold.

Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe it. Massive win for Tom Kim.

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