Normally, when a player needs to step back from a sport, it is for medical reasons. In the past year, several players, including Tiger Woods, sustained injuries that required medical attention to heal. In the PGA, there have been times when a player had to step back from the main Tour in order to get back on their feet after losing their membership. S.H. Kim, however, will need to take a step back to fulfill mandatory military service in his home country, South Korea.
S.H. Kim And The PGA
For the 2026 season, Kim has been doing fairly well for himself. He made the cut in five out of the seven events he has been in. Kim also made the top 25 twice so far this season. So with the upcoming conscription, he is finding himself limited in what he can do. This includes the idea that he will miss the Masters Tournament, even if he qualifies.
Kim commented on the issue, saying that he will be going as soon as the Valero finishes.
“I’m playing until Valero,” he said through a translator. “Anything after that is a lot of factors going into play. I might come back again this year. First, I have to go back to Korea.”
This is his first year with a Tour Card as well, and he was given a travel extension at the start of the season. However, in South Korea, military service is compulsory with a minimum of two years. The PGA is working to keep Kim on the field, even if it is just on the Korean circuit when he can’t come to the States. The plan is to keep him in playing shape, as there have been players who lost their edge after service.
Not The First Time
S.H. Kim is not the first Korean player on the PGA Tour, nor was he the first to need to go back home for boot camp. Sangmoon Bae played the 2015 President’s Cup and then went straight to his service time. Similar story for Seung-yul Noh, who finished his service just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic. During their service time, they saw a decline in their performance and were not quite up to par. It’s not limited to golf either. K-pop fans have seen some of their favorite boy bands temporarily break up for the service.
S.H. Kim In The PGA
By law, S.H. Kim needs to serve at least two years. This will make tournaments complicated for him. There is also the complication of the Asian Games coming in the fall. The PGA wants to keep Kim on his toes for that and wants him to be in his best condition. The PGA is trying to be prepared for it so that players like Kim won’t go through a slump after their return. For now, though, for his first season as a card-holding member, Kim is seeing it being cut short.
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