Tom Kim Opens 67 at Asian Games, Chases Military Exemption

Tom Kim opened the Asian Games men's individual golf competition with a 3-under 67 at Kasugai Country Club's East Course in Japan, leaving him two shots off the early lead as he chases a result that would exempt him from South Korean military service.

Why the Asian Games matter for Kim

South Korean men are required to serve 18 to 21 months in the military once they turn 19, with postponements possible but few exemptions available. A gold medal in either the individual or team competition at the Asian Games is one of them. Kim, 24, needs a win this week to secure his.

He arrives fresh off a 4-1-0 record for the United States' rivals at the Presidents Cup, where he beat Wyndham Clark in Sunday singles at Medinah No. 3 outside Chicago. Kim left for Japan that night and arrived late Monday to prepare.

His opening round included five birdies against two bogeys, leaving him tied for seventh. Chinese Taipei's Wei-hsuan Wang and Japan's Kazuki Higa share the individual lead at 5 under.

The team standings combine each country's two lowest scores, giving Kim a second path to the exemption if South Korea's group can close the two-shot gap on Japan.