Is Tom Kim playing at the Royal Montreal Golf Club more than honor and glory? In the Olympics, South Korean International had much more at stake than probably any other player in the field. A podium finish at the Le Golf National would’ve exempted him from mandatory military service in his home country, South Korea.

Due to its belligerent neighbor, South Korean laws bind every able-bodied citizen to mandatory conscription service for 1.5-2 years. Unless they promote the national honor at an international arena. The Presidents Cup, however, is not included in that arena. Only honors in the Asian Games and the Olympics will allow for avoidance. 

Tom Kim had the chance at Le Golf  National. But a double bogey on the 18th shattered his exemption hopes. Quite similar to how his playing mate this Thursday, Sungjae Im’s hopes were dashed in 2021. Im and his teammate, Si Woo Kim, failed to secure a podium finish in Tokyo. But the duo, however, compensated for that with a Gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. 

Indeed, the Korean populace vehemently opposed any special favor being granted to BTS members, even though they are currently one of the most famous pop groups on the planet. But, for professional golfers, two years of absence leaves its mark. Rarely has any South Korean pro reached their full potential after coming back.

The odds are stacked against Tom Kim

Sang-moon Bae was a two-time winner on the PGA Tour. The 2015 Presidents Cup in his home country was the last time he teed off professionally before enlisting for military service. His comeback was far from smooth. In 2019, the South Korean said, “I’ve kind of lost my feel how to play golf. Not how to swing — I forgot how to play golf.” Bae’s PGA Tour appearances in recent years have been sporadic. 

There is Seung-yul Noh, the South Korean prodigy who returned from military service in 2020. Noh, who scored his maiden victory in 2014, is considering retirement. The 33-year-old was confident of keeping his Tour card when he came back from the military. But Noh has barely managed a single top-ten since then at the 2024 Isco Championship. 

“I’ve been in a tough place for a few years, but I can’t say this is due to the military service. It’s been five years since I got discharged. But at the same time, once my career got disrupted, it’s been more difficult than expected to find my footing again, especially since this is where the best players of the world compete against each other,” Noh was quoted by Yonhap News Agency.

The reason is not hard to guess. Family takes priority over golf during those small vacations during the conscription period. As for Tom Kim, his next chance is at the 2026 Asian Games in India.