The Albany Gazette - 'Glad it's over': Kim powers to Games gold and military exemption

He let out a roar of "Come on!" as he tapped in for par at the last in Nagoya and celebrated a three-stroke victory after a superb round containing five birdies and an eagle.

He was visibly relieved at getting over the line and was mobbed by his teammates as they draped him in the South Korean flag and doused him in water.

"It's a crazy feeling," said the world number 32, who dashed across 14 time zones to play in the Asian Games after playing in the Presidents Cup last weekend.

"I'm just glad it's over. This day was the longest day I think I've ever had in my life. I'm just glad it's done."

Kim knew there was more at stake than just a gold medal.

Able-bodied South Korean males are usually required to perform between 18 months and two years of military service before the age of 28.

But the Seoul government rewards Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any colour with an exemption, meaning they will carry out just four weeks of light basic training instead.

It enables the 24-year-old South Korean Kim to keep his blossoming career on track, having already claimed an Asian Tour order of merit crown and four PGA Tour titles.

He was downcast in Paris two years ago after letting the chance of an Olympic medal slip away on the final day.

"I'm very grateful that I won gold this week," said Kim.

- 'Very grateful' -

"I was more focused on winning a medal for my team, other than personal issues. And I'm very grateful that I was able to do that.

"And you know, at the Olympics, I did the same thing. I was very emotional, but not because I didn't win, but more so because I wasn't able to do anything for my country.

"I'm very proud of my country."

Three players were tied for second on 15-under. Kazuki Higa of Japan secured second place with a birdie on the fourth hole of a three-way playoff.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand took the bronze after one further sudden-death hole against China's Ding Wenyi, who had the consolation of winning the team gold.

Pranavi Urs held her nerve to hole a knee-knocking three-foot putt for par on the final green to become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games golf gold.

She finished on 15-under par, one stroke ahead of her playing partners Yin Ruoning -- the former world number one from China -- and Singapore's Shannon Tan.

"That's always the goal to always be the first one to do anything," said Urs.

"The first will always be the first, and I've always had that motto growing up and I'm just glad I could do it."

Yin claimed the silver medal from Tan in a playoff.

Yin won gold in the team event with her China teammates Liu Yan and Zhang Weiwei.

India took silver with Taiwan, whose trio included veteran former world number one Tseng Ya-ni, the bronze.

It was the second Asian Games bronze for five-time major champion Tseng, who is now 37.

Her first was in Doha 20 years ago.

(A.Moore--TAG)