Olympic golfer Tom Kim left with two chances to avoid mandatory military service after missing out on medal
Tom Kim is one of the top young stars on the PGA Tour
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Tom Kim agonisinigly missed out on an Olympic medal in Paris that would have made him exempt from military service for South Korea.
The world No 20, who has won three events on the PGA Tour, was in strong contention heading into the final round after an incredible round of 62 on Saturday.
But he was unable to carry that momentum into Sunday where the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama and Victor Perez all had better final rounds.
Kim ultimately missed out on a medal as he finished down in eighth and the South Korean was seen in tears while handing in his scorecard at the end.
Tom Kim is one of the top young stars on the PGA Tour
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At 22 years of age, Kim has time on his side to avoid the mandatory military service for able-bodied South Korean men.
They are required to enlist before their 28th birthday with only a few ways to avoid the strict conscription rules.
Athletes who gain medals - of any colour - at the Olympics are given automatic exemption.
Kim will still have a chance to at the next Olympics in Los Angeles 2028 as he'll still only be 26 by that point.
Winning gold at the Asian Games is also another way for athletes to avoid South Korea's conscription and Kim will have a chance at the 2026 Games in Japan.
Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but won gold in the team event at the 2023 Asian Games to earn an exemption.
But there has been other examples in the past of South Korean golfers leaving the PGA Tour to undergo their mandatory service.
Seung Yul-Noh and Sang-Moon Bae, who both had wins on the PGA Tour, served full 21-month period before returning.
Tom Kim finished eighth
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Bae entered the military as a rifelman in 2015 after playing in the Presidents Cup, but has struggled to get back to the top of the men's game since his return.
Kim's South Korean team-mate Byeong Hun An, who turns 33 years of age next month, has so far managed to avoid military service for his home country.
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Byeong Hun An finished tied-24th
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He's managed to delay his enlisting on several occasions, but time is running out for An to avoid the national service.
An's situation also indicates that Kim might find a way of delaying enlisting himself into his 30s as well.
That would mean the Asian Games and Olympics in 2030 and 2032 respectively could also offer opportunities for Kim to gain exemption with a medal.
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