Tom Kim takes Asian Games lead with military exemption at stake

Tom Kim moved into a one-shot lead in the Asian Games men's golf competition after a five-under-par 65 in the third round, BBC Sport reported. The South Korean reached 12 under at Kasugai Country Club in Japan, putting himself in position to pursue both a gold medal and an exemption from most of his country's compulsory military service.

Kim had begun the round two strokes behind the leader. His round included five birdies and an eagle, and he finished the day ahead of Taiwan's Wang Wei-hsuan, the overnight leader, and Japan's Kazuki Higa. Missed birdie opportunities on the 14th and 18th holes prevented the 24-year-old from building a larger advantage with one round remaining.

The stakes extend beyond the individual title. According to the BBC, able-bodied South Korean men generally must complete between 18 and 21 months of military service before turning 28. Asian Games gold medallists and Olympic medallists receive an exemption from that service, although they still have to undertake basic training lasting less than a month.

South Korea also held a one-stroke lead in the men's team competition, providing a separate opportunity for Kim to secure the exemption. Team gold would qualify both him and 28-year-old SH Kim regardless of their individual finishes. Their teammate Mun Do-yeob has already completed his military service, so the same career implications do not apply to him.

SH Kim told the BBC's report that the prospect of service was weighing on him and described feeling nervous under the pressure. He identified remaining on the PGA Tour as his goal, with a gold medal offering a way to avoid the lengthy interruption that military duty would otherwise entail.

Tom Kim arrived in Japan after playing in the Presidents Cup in the United States. The BBC reported that he had to cope with a 14-hour time difference and only six hours of sleep. Ranked 32nd in the world, he has won four PGA Tour titles and an Asian Tour order of merit crown.

He previously missed out on an exemption at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After sharing third place following the opening round, Kim eventually finished eighth. His latest third-round performance leaves him leading the individual event while South Korea also remains in front in the team standings.