Tom Kim plays his way to a military exemption, Austin Smotherman achieves a dream, and Brooks Koepka has life
To leave America and golf behind and return to South Korea to serve in the military for over a year, or not — those were the stakes for the 24-year-old.Golf is already difficult enough, but adding the pressure of a legitimately life-altering situation seems downright crippling; Kim thrived under the wildly unique circumstances, and a text message from Tiger Woods may have played a tiny role in it all.In Utah, the FedEx Cup Fall got back underway on the PGA Tour.
It was already a milestone week for Austin Smotherman, but it turned into a career-altering one when it was all said and done on Sunday.Meanwhile, the DP World Tour played host to the always awesome Alfred Dunhill Links, and the consistently strong field featured Brooks Koepka, who may just have needed a few walks around some of the best courses on Earth to get his confidence back.Joohyung Kim(Tom Kim) of South Korea celebrates after winning gold during the Golf Men's final round of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya at Kasugai Country Club East Course on October 03, 2026 in Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.
(Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images) (Zhe Ji/Getty Images)Welcome to Par Talk, a weekly read to get you caught up on all the happenings that took place in professional golf that you should know.Be sure to follow Mark on X @itismarkharris or email him at [email protected] South Korean law, most able-bodied men must serve 18 to 21 months of military service.
Special exemptions, however, are granted for both athletes and classical artists who excel in international competitions.Athletes can receive exemptions by earning any medal at the Olympics or a gold medal at the Asian Games.Kim, born in Seoul, South Korea, would likely have had an opportunity in the 2028 Olympics to earn a medal and receive his military exemption, but why wait four years when an opportunity presented itself?Kim entered the Asian Games in great form, fresh off being the leading points earner for his International side in the Presidents...