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Tom Kim Wins Men’s Individual Gold, Avoids Service Delay

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Tom Kim Wins Gold

Tom Kim captured the men’s individual gold at the 2026 Asian Games, securing a military exemption.
He closed with a 6-under 64, finishing 18-under 262 for the tournament.
The victory spares him 18-21 months of service, requiring only basic training.
Kim flew from the Presidents Cup in Medinah and played after six hours of sleep.

Summary

Organisers Install Floodlights

Organisers installed temporary floodlights on the 18th green after play extended past sunset.
Tom Kim, Keita Nakajima and Taichi Kho played the final men’s group for more than five hours.
Players cleaned balls on soft fairways, slowing play and adding to the delay.
The artificial lighting kept the tournament on schedule despite the jet-lagged players’ delayed start.

History

Historical Context

At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, South Korea’s Kim Seong-hyeon won the men’s individual golf gold, granting a 21-month military exemption under the Ministry of National Defense. The event, held 23-26 August at Pondok Indah Golf Course with 128 athletes from 25 nations, set a precedent that now shapes Tom Kim’s 2026 Asian Games victory and related scheduling adjustments.

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Tom Kim Wins Gold

Tom Kim captured the men’s individual gold at the 2026 Asian Games, securing a military exemption.
He closed with a 6-under 64, finishing 18-under 262 for the tournament.
The victory spares him 18-21 months of service, requiring only basic training.
Kim flew from the Presidents Cup in Medinah and played after six hours of sleep.

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