Tom Kim set for dramatic Presidents Cup departure after remarkable week

Tom Kim has been one of the standout performers at this week’s Presidents Cup, but his involvement in Sunday’s dramatic finale could be over before the destination of the trophy is decided.

The South Korean has taken three points from his four matches so far at Medinah, making him the joint top scorer alongside fellow countryman Si Woo Kim, who partnered him during the first three days of action.

Kim is scheduled to face Wyndham Clark in the second singles match on Sunday as Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team takes a three-point lead into the final day, which features 12 singles matches.

As first reported by the Associated Press, Kim is expected to leave Illinois later on Sunday as he turns his attention to another hugely significant event in Japan.

The 24-year-old is one of three South Korean golfers due to compete at the Asian Games, which begin on Wednesday at Kasugay Country Club in Aichi Prefecture.

For Kim, the tournament carries enormous personal significance.

A gold medal in either the individual or team competition would reportedly earn him an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service.

The Associated Press reported that Kim is expected to travel to Japan late on Sunday, with two people connected to the International Team confirming his plans. Both sources spoke anonymously, with Kim yet to publicly discuss his Asian Games schedule.

South Korean men are generally required to complete between 18 and 21 months of military service, although exemptions are available in certain circumstances, including major sporting achievements.

That makes the Asian Games a particularly important opportunity for Kim, who narrowly missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics after finishing four shots outside the bronze-medal position.

There is also recent history within the International Team which underlines the significance of the opportunity.

Kim’s fellow South Koreans Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim helped South Korea win the men's team golf gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games by a remarkable 25-shot margin. Their victory secured exemptions from military service.

The potential consequences of missing out are significant. Seung Yul Noh and Sang-Moon Bae both established themselves as PGA Tour winners before completing their mandatory service, but struggled to rediscover their previous form after spending two years away from competitive golf.

Kim therefore arrives at the Asian Games with a huge incentive, although his immediate focus will be on helping the International Team complete one of the biggest upsets in Presidents Cup history.

The Internationals are seeking only their second victory in the biennial contest and their first since 1998. Remarkably, it is also the first time since the Presidents Cup began in 1994 that the International Team has held a lead on American soil heading into the final day.

Brandt Snedeker’s United States team, meanwhile, has it all to do if it is to extend its remarkable dominance and claim an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup victory.

For Kim, Sunday could be a day of extraordinary significance. He has already played a major role in putting the International Team in this position, but with a flight to Japan awaiting him afterwards, his Presidents Cup story could end before the final point is decided.