S Korean golfer wins gold and more

VICTORY AND TIME: Asian Games gold means most of Tom Kim’s military service will be exempted, allowing him to keep his golf career steaming ahead

Tom Kim shot a sparkling final-round six-under 64 on yesterday to win golf gold at the Asian Games — and avoid a long spell in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces

He let out a roar of “Come on!” as he tapped in for par at the last in Nagoya and celebrated a three-stroke victory after a superb round containing five birdies and an eagle.

He was visibly relieved at getting over the line and was mobbed by his teammates as they draped him in the South Korean flag and doused him in water to celebrate.

South Korea’s Tom Kim plays a shot during the Asian Games in Kasugai, Japan, on Wednesday.

Photo: AP

Kim knew there was more at stake than just a gold medal. Able-bodied South Korean males are usually required to perform between 18 months and two years of military service before the age of 28.

The Republic of Korea government exempts winners of Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medallists from a full period of service, requiring just four weeks of abbreviated basic training instead.

It enables the 24-year-old South Korean Kim to keep his blossoming career on track, having already claimed an Asian Tour order of merit crown and four PGA Tour titles.

He won this year’s prestigious Scottish Open and was downcast in Paris two years ago after letting the chance of winning an Olympic medal slip away on the final day, finishing eighth.

Three players were tied for second on 15-under, meaning that Kazuki Higa of Japan, Ding Wenyi of China and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand would need a playoff to decide the rest of the podium. Earlier, Pranavi Urs held her nerve to shoot a 1m putt for par on the final green to become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games golf gold.

Urs was doused in water in celebration by her fellow Indians Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar after completing a final round of level-par 70, which proved to be enough.

She finished on 15-under par, one stroke ahead of her playing partners Yin Ruoning — the former world number one from China who made a final-round charge with a three-under 67 — and Singapore’s Shannon Tan who carded a 68.

“That’s always the goal to always be the first one to do anything,” Urs said. “The first will always be the first, and I’ve always had that motto growing up and I’m just glad I could do it.”

Yin claimed the silver medal after Tan had a bogey five at the first playoff hole and had to settle for bronze.

Yin, known on the LPGA Tour as “Ronnie,” did win a gold in the team event with her China teammates Liu Yan and Zhang Weiwei after they finished top of the leaderboard with an aggregate of 20-under par.

India took silver with Taiwan, whose trio included former world No. 1 Yani Tseng, taking bronze.

It was the second Asian Games bronze for five-time major champion Tseng, now 37 years old.

She won her first, also in the team event, in Doha 20 years ago.