Tom Kim expected to leave Presidents Cup for Asian Games

Tom Kim is expected to leave the Presidents Cup in Illinois for Japan late Sunday, before the tournament concludes, to join South Korea’s team at the Asian Games, according to reports. The trip has not been publicly confirmed by Kim. He is scheduled to play Wyndham Clark in the second singles match on Sunday, after earning three points in his first four matches at Medinah. The Asian Games begin Wednesday. A gold medal in either the individual or team golf competition would qualify Kim for an exemption from South Korea’s military service, according to the reports. The exemption is not automatic based simply on competing, and no result from the Asian Games is yet available. The expected departure would take one of the International Team’s leading players out of the Presidents Cup before the outcome is decided. The team entered Sunday with a three-point lead and 12 singles matches remaining, according to tournament coverage. Kim’s match against Clark is scheduled early in the singles session, but the reports do not establish whether he will travel immediately after it or how much of the Presidents Cup’s conclusion he could miss.