tom kim

Search interest in South Korean golfer Tom Kim surged as reports revealed he plans to leave the 2026 Presidents Cup early at Medinah Country Club to travel to Japan for the Asian Games. Kim is departing ahead of the event's conclusion to compete for a gold medal, which would earn him an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea.

What's driving interest

Kim, a 24-year-old ranked No. 31 in the world, played a key role for the International Team at Medinah No. 3 in Illinois (Source: Golfweek). Scheduled to face American Wyndham Clark in the second singles match on Sunday, Kim is expected to leave late Sunday afternoon before the final outcome of the team competition is decided (Source: Golfweek). He is traveling to Japan's Aichi Prefecture to prepare for the Asian Games at Kasugai Country Club, which begin on Wednesday (Source: Golfweek).

Stakes for military exemption

All able-bodied South Korean men are legally required to complete 18 to 21 months of military service after turning 19 (Source: Golfweek). However, exemptions are granted for significant athletic achievements, such as winning an Olympic medal or a gold medal at the Asian Games (Source: Golfweek). Kim previously missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics (Source: Yahoo Sports). PGA Tour golfers Seung Yul-Noh and Sang-Moon Bae previously struggled to regain their playing form after taking two years off for mandatory service, while Kim's International Team teammates Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim earned exemptions by winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games (Source: Golfweek).

Tournament performance

Before his scheduled departure, Kim won three of his first four matches during the week, helping the International Team hold a 10.5-7.5 lead over the U.S. team entering Sunday's final singles session (Source: Yahoo Sports).