Tom Kim plays his way to a military exemption, Austin Smotherman achieves a dream, and Brooks Koepka has life
Tom Kim is used to playing golf for millions of dollars and job security, and is pretty comfortable in that setting as a four-time PGA Tour winner, but none of it compares to the pressures he faced while competing in this past weekend’s Asian Games in Japan.
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)
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Tom Kim plays his way out of military service
Under 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 Cup, and he was able to ride the momentum into grabbing a one-shot lead heading into the final round in Japan. A one-shot cushion certainly eases things, but the pressures of a military exemption on the line, having to go out and perform across 18 holes, makes that cushion feel minuscule.
South Korean Tom Kim posted under-par rounds in all four rounds of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open. (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Prior to teeing it up in what will, in all likelihood, be the most important round of golf he ever plays in, Kim received a text message from none other than Tiger Woods.
“Just be you. Nothing more, nothing less,” the message from Woods said, according to Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. It’s safe to say that the short and sweet message from the big cat made an impact.
Kim went out and carded four birdies in his opening eight holes in the final round before making an eagle on the 13th to really grab hold of the moment. He ultimately carded a final-round 64 to earn a three-shot victory and the gold medal, and you could practically see the relief leave his body after he finished his final hole.
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Given the wildly unique circumstances, it’s impossible to even begin to imagine the pressure Kim must have felt throughout the week. He may have been the favorite to win gold to begin the games, but anything can happen when you’re playing for a piece of your life’s future in the most literal sense imaginable.
The year 2026 will be one that Kim never, ever forgets. While earning a military exemption undoubtedly tops his list of accomplishments for the year, he also won the Scottish Open for his first win on Tour in nearly three years and has climbed more than 70 spots in the world rankings after beginning the year outside the Top 100.
The 100th time’s the charm for Austin Smotherman
Austin Smotherman is what we like to call a young journeyman.
The Bank of Utah Championship marked the former SMU Mustang’s 100th career start on the PGA Tour, but the 32-year-old has played a lot of professional golf after turning pro back in 2016.
Mini tour reps, more than 30 starts on PGA Tour Latin America, another 102 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, and now 100 on the biggest stage, he’s paid his dues, and they paid off with a maiden victory in The Beehive State on Sunday.
Austin Smotherman of the United States celebrates after winning the Bank of Utah Championship 2026 at Black Desert Resort on October 04, 2026 in Ivins, Utah. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry How/Getty Images)
Finding the winner’s circle always helps to find perspective, but after his two-shot victory on Sunday, Smotherman was genuinely just happy to be in the position he’s in as a competitor on the PGA Tour.
“One hundred starts out here is an incredible number, just to be blessed to have 100 starts, but even more so, to play professional golf now for 10 years, travel the world, have the support I’ve had, it’s pretty unreal to lift a trophy at the highest level,” the California native explained. “It’s something we’ve dreamed about since I was a kid, and here we are.”
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Smotherman began Sunday’s final round with a one-shot advantage over Doug Ghim, and while neither of the two had their A+ game across the final 18 holes, it was Smotherman who answered the call best when adversity came calling.
After making a double bogey on the Par 4 13th hole, he immediately answered with the tee shot of a lifetime on the drivable 14th to set up a routine birdie before playing his final three holes at 1-under to secure win No. 1.
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With the win, Smotherman earned a spot in the first two signature events of the 2027 PGA Tour season and a payday of $1.08 million.
Brooks Koepka finally finds something across the pond
Outside of Top 15 finishes at The Players and the Masters, Brooks Koepka’s first season back on the PGA Tour after making his return from LIV Golf wasn’t necessarily one to remember. Statistically, the five-time major champion was one of the best iron players in the game in 2026, but things never felt in sync, which led him to miss the FedEx Cup Playoffs altogether.
After putting together a season nowhere close to his standard, Koepka took a month-long hiatus from competitive golf before electing to try and retool with some reps on the DP World Tour.
Brooks Koepka of the United States of America during Day Three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course, on October 03, 2026, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images) (Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
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While the journey got off to a bad start with a T-55 at the Irish Open in September and a missed cut at the BMW PGA Championship, this past weekend’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship may have been the springboard the American was looking for.
Tournament rounds spread across Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, and the Old Course at St. Andrews will grab the attention of anyone with a pulse, and Koepka’s T-6 proved that.
The Alfred Dunhill may be the last time we see Koepka tee it up for quite some time, but those reps and that result in difficult conditions across the weekend could be something we look back on if he makes some immediate noise in 2027.
