Tom Kim insists he was not crying because Olympics failure means South Korea military service

Tom Kim was convulsed in tears here at Le Golf National after finishing eighth at the Olympic golf tournament, although he later denied that this devastation was because a medal would have meant he avoids military service in South Korea.

The 22-year-old was in contention for bronze for most of the final day until a double-bogey on the 18th saw him fall back. The rules in his home country dictate that he can only circumvent conscription if he gains a medal at the Olympics or a gold at the Asian Games. A win in a major will not do.

Kim has another Asian Games to go and the Olympics at Los Angeles in 2028 before he passes the cut-off point at 28. Having come so close to earning his exemption, it was perhaps no surprise to see him so upset. But Kim was adamant this was not the reason.

“Not at all,” Kim replied. “I wasn’t really thinking about that at all. I was just trying to get a medal for my country and not myself. I’ve never been really this emotional after a round.

“These emotions are surprising but I think it’s just all the hard work I’ve done this year to put myself in this position – those things are coming out. And just the things Scottie [Scheffler] said to me after the round really kind of came out and I’m just trying to hold it together.

“He’s a really good buddy of mine and understands what I’ve gone through. Just those things and a friend to say something like that after what he did [winning the gold], it means a lot.”

Neither Kim nor Scheffler would reveal what was said, but the highly popular character recently fell out of the world top 25 after standing on the brink of the top 10 at the end of last year. This was a turnaround after his missed cut at the Open at Royal Troon two weeks ago.

Nevertheless, the impending military orders are, at the very least, a distraction, not least because of what befell Sang Moon Bae when he was called up in 2015. He was flying high at the time as a multiple PGA Tour winner, but after he served his two years has yet to recover his form and is now outside the world’s top 500.

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