Tom Kim of South Korea won the gold medal in golf at the Asian Games, finishing 18 under par after a final-round 64 to claim victory by three strokes.

The 24-year-old entered the final round as the leader and delivered a composed performance that included five birdies and an eagle. A bogey on the 17th hole briefly raised tension, but Kim held his nerve and tapped in for par on the final hole before visibly expressing his relief.

Kim's nearest challengers finished at 15 under par: Keita Higa of Japan, Wenyi Ding of China, and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand. Wang Wei-Hsun of Chinese Taipei finished fifth at 11 under.

The victory carries significant consequences beyond sport for Kim. Under South Korean law, male citizens are required to complete between 18 and 21 months of mandatory military service before the age of 28.

However, the government grants an exemption from full service to Asian Games champions and Olympic medal winners of any colour. The exemption reduces the obligation to basic training only, which lasts less than a month.