Tom Kim stared down hundreds of raucous American followers and a loaded U.S. roster and nonetheless discovered a technique to go 4-1 for the Worldwide Workforce within the Presidents Cup. As disturbing because the week should’ve been for the 24-year-old PGA Tour star, it does not evaluate to the strain he is about to face in his subsequent event.
After defeating Wyndham Clark, 3&2, in Sunday singles, Kim could not stick round to see the ultimate outcome as a result of he needed to catch a flight to Japan. There, he’ll compete within the 2026 Asian Video games at Kasugi Nation Membership with way more than only a trophy on the road. If Kim wins a gold medal within the males’s particular person or crew competitors on the Asian Video games, he shall be exempt from his necessary army service in South Korea.
In South Korea, able-bodied male residents are required by regulation to finish between 18 and 21 months of army service by age 28. The one exemptions accessible are for athletes or classical musicians. For golfers particularly, they are often excused from army service in the event that they win a gold medal on the Asian Video games or any medal on the Olympic Video games.
The strain shall be immense for Kim this week. The Asian Video games, just like the Olympic Video games, are held each 4 years, so that is Kim’s final alternative to win a gold medal earlier than he turns 28. If he does not win the person or crew competitors this week, his final probability to keep away from army service will come on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif.
South Korean golfers and army service
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