Tom Kim leads the men's golf event at the 2026 Asian Games after a stellar third round, seeking a gold medal to secure a military service exemption. Starting two shots off the lead, Kim shot a five-under 65, moving to 12 under par. The 24-year-old needs the victory to reduce his mandatory 18 to 21 months of service, a reward offered to Asian Games gold medalists. Kim traveled directly from the Presidents Cup in the US, managing only six hours of sleep and a 14-hour time difference at Kasugai Country Club in Japan. He previously missed exemption opportunities at the Paris Olympics, finishing eighth. Joining Kim in the exemption race are SH Kim and the South Korean team, who hold a one-stroke lead in the men's team event. However, teammate Mun Do-yeob has already served his duty. Individual gold would exempt Tom Kim and SH Kim, allowing them to stay on the PGA Tour, while team gold would cover the pair regardless of individual performance. Kim expressed nervousness about the pressure, stating staying on the PGA Tour is his goal if he secures the exemption.
Wang Wei-hsuan of Taiwan and Japan's Kazuki Higa trail going into the final round.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing