PGA Member Kim Sunghyun to Return to Korea in Early April Due to Military Service Obligation

Golf Channel: Eligible to Play Through Texas Open
Cannot Compete in Masters Even if Qualified
Best-Case Scenario: Asian Games Gold Medal

There have been reports that Kim Sunghyun, who is currently playing on the PGA Tour, will have to return to Korea early in April.

On March 18 (local time), Golf Channel, a U.S. golf media outlet, published an article titled "Even if Kim Sunghyun earns a Masters invite, he must return to Korea." The report explained that "Kim Sunghyun must fulfill his mandatory military service in Korea," and added, "At the beginning of this year, he received a 90-day overseas extension permit, which lasts until the Texas Open in early April." Kim Sunghyun, born in 1998, will not be able to compete in the Masters even if he wins the Texas Open and qualifies for the following week’s tournament.

There are reports that Kim Sunghyun must return to Korea early from the United States due to military service issues. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

In an interview with Golf Channel, Kim Sunghyun said, "I plan to compete up to the Texas Open," and added, "After that, I need to consider multiple factors. First, I must return to Korea, but I might be able to come back later this year." Golf Channel also reported, "The PGA Tour is making efforts to help Kim Sunghyun," and that "they are seeking ways to grant him a medical leave and allow him to participate in Korean Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Tour events while in Korea."

For Kim Sunghyun, winning a gold medal at this year’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games would be the best scenario for returning to the PGA Tour. Both Im Sungjae and Kim Siwoo previously won a team gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. At this year’s Asian Games, the top three players in the world rankings as of a date to be announced will be given priority for entry into the men’s golf event.

Currently, according to the world rankings, Kim Siwoo is ranked 28th, Im Sungjae 82nd, An Byeonghun 123rd, Kim Joohyung 127th, and Kim Sunghyun 157th. Kim Siwoo, Im Sungjae, and An Byeonghun have already resolved their military service obligations. If any of these players decide not to participate, Kim Sunghyun may have an opportunity to compete in the Asian Games.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.