2026 Asian Games: Tom Kim, South Korea in contention through 36 holes

Seeking an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea, Tom Kim posted a 4-under 66 on his second round at Japan’s Kasugai Country Club East Course.

Kim sits two back of Wenyi Ding and Wei-hsuan Wang’s co-lead at 9 under with two rounds left at the Asian Games — an event the 24-year-old South Korean native traveled to compete in after leading the Presidents Cup’s International team at Medinah over the weekend.

With a gold medal in either the men’s competition or the team competition, Kim would be excused from serving between 18 and 21 months in the military.

On the team side, comprised of the two individual lowest scores, South Korea sits in solo third at 14 under through 36 holes. Japan is setting the pace at 16 under, with China a shot off the lead at the tournament’s halfway point.

S.H. Kim and Doyeob Mun are also representing South Korea in the competition, with Kim also playing for an exemption. Mun, 35, served in the country’s military.

“I already finished my military service so I don’t really think about the military (exemption)”, Mun said during a pretournament interview earlier this week. “But I want to play good, so we make our team get a gold medal … to make sure they don’t go to the military.”

The International team star at Medinah opened with a 3-under 67 at the Kasugai Country Club East Couse in Japan to sit inside the leaderboard’s top 10.