Tiger Woods' message was short and sharp – and not only brought Tom Kim gold at the Asian Games but also saved him from military service. 'Just be yourself. Nothing more, nothing less,' was the text message from the GOAT, which the South Korean gold medalist revealed to reporters after his triumph. It was a message that visibly inspired Tom Kim and helped him keep his nerves in check, allowing him to card a sensational round of 64 – an incredible six-under-par – on Saturday and clinch the title.
The connection to Woods goes back a while, forged through Tiger's own indoor golf league. The two have already shared a few swings there. Has he texted Tiger back yet? 'Nah, not yet. But I think I'll send him a photo of me biting my gold medal,' said Kim, bringing smiles to reporters' faces with his remark.
When the final putt dropped, there was no holding back: a shout, a loud 'Come on!' – pure relief. The pressure on the shoulders of the world No. 32 was immense. Barely recovered from the Presidents Cup last weekend, and with 14 time zones weighing on him, he was straight into action at the Asian Games. 'This is a crazy feeling,' Kim confessed. 'I'm just glad it's over. This Saturday? The longest day of my life, I think.' The gold medal pressure? A completely different beast than on Tour. 'In a normal Tour event, you don't have that thrill from Thursday to Sunday. But this week? I was nervous from start to finish. I told myself this would be the longest week of my life. And once I had that in mind, I was able to stay calm.'
South Korean law is strict on this: Between 18 months and two years of military service for every able-bodied man under 28. Unless you bring home gold from the Asian Games or any medal from the Olympic Games. Then it's just four weeks of light basic training.
Now, at 24, Kim can fully pursue his truly strong career. He already has four PGA Tour titles under his belt. Two years ago, he missed out on an Olympic medal opportunity for Paris 2024, which bothered him. His next big goal? The Los Angeles Games in 2028. 'I'll feel quite comfortable at the Olympic Games in the States,' said Kim. The message is clear: 'My next goal is an Olympic gold medal.'
