Kim Joo-hyung wins Asian Games golf gold at 18 under after Woods message
In short
Kim Joo-hyung, 24, won the men's individual golf gold at the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, closing with a 6-under 64 for an 18-under total of 262 and a three-stroke victory. He said a message from Tiger Woods that morning — “Just be you. Nothing more, nothing less.” — helped him. The win, Korea's first in the event since 2010, brings military service exemption; Korea took silver in the team event.
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Kim Joo-hyung, 24, won the men's individual golf gold medal at the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games on Oct. 3, at Kasugai Country Club in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Hankook Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo reported. He closed with a 6-under-par 64 — one eagle, five birdies and one bogey — for an 18-under total of 262, with an eagle at the par-5 13th hole giving him the upper hand, according to Hankook Ilbo. He finished three strokes ahead of joint runners-up Higashi Kazuki of Japan, Ding Wenyi of China and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand, the paper said. [ 2 , 4 ]
The morning of the final round, Kim received a message from Tiger Woods, 51, that read “Just be you. Nothing more, nothing less,” according to Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo. Kim told reporters he was taken aback: “It's strange, it seems Tiger is watching me wherever I am. It arrived first thing when I got up.” Dong-A Ilbo quoted him saying the message convinced him he only needed to play his own game. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported the gold was the first by a Korean man in the Asian Games individual golf event since Kim Min-hwi at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, 16 years earlier. Hankook Ilbo reported the win also brings military service exemption, easing the burden on Kim as he continues his career on the PGA Tour. [ 2 , 4 ]
In the team event, decided by the combined scores of two players per round, Korea took silver at 26-under 534, behind China at 28-under 532, Hankook Ilbo reported. Moon Do-yeop finished tied eighth at 8-under 272 and Kim Seong-hyun tied 24th at 1-over 281, the paper said. Korea Economic Daily's feed had carried a report that Kim moved into the sole lead after the third round and was on course to sweep both individual and team gold. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kim arrived in Nagoya directly from the Presidents Cup, which ended on Sept. 28 local time, and said after the first round that he had slept only six hours in two days, Hankook Ilbo reported. He credited his wife, whom the paper said he married late last year, saying she called and prayed with him and read the Bible with him during the week, and thanked Korean fans who travelled to the course. [ 2 ]
Kim said his next national-team target is the Los Angeles Olympics in two years, adding that he feels more at ease because those Games will be in the United States and he has played the courses there often. He is listed alongside Im Sung-jae for the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic presented by Lexus in Yokohama, Japan, on Oct. 5, according to Hankook Ilbo. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The gold brings Kim exemption from military service, which Hankook Ilbo reported eases the burden on his PGA Tour career, and is Korea's first men's individual golf title at the Asian Games since 2010. Kim has said he now targets the Los Angeles Olympics in two years and is listed to return to the PGA Tour in Yokohama on Oct. 5.
Key facts
- Kim Joo-hyung, 24, won the men's individual golf gold at the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, held at Kasugai Country Club in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He shot a final round of 6-under 64 — one eagle, five birdies and one bogey — for an 18-under total of 262, an eagle at the par-5 13th hole giving him the upper hand. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He finished three strokes ahead of joint runners-up Higashi Kazuki of Japan, Ding Wenyi of China and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand. [ 2 ]
- Tiger Woods, 51, sent Kim a message the morning of the final round reading “Just be you. Nothing more, nothing less.” [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reported the gold was the first by a Korean man in the Asian Games individual event since Kim Min-hwi at the 2010 Guangzhou Games. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported the win also brings military service exemption, easing Kim's continued PGA Tour career. [ 2 ]
- Korea took silver in the team event at 26-under 534, behind China at 28-under 532. [ 2 ]
- Kim is listed alongside Im Sung-jae for the PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic presented by Lexus in Yokohama on Oct. 5. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Joo-hyung won the men's individual golf gold medal at the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Tiger Woods sent Kim a message of encouragement that Kim received on the morning of the final round. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Kim finished the tournament on 18-under 262 after a final round of 6-under 64. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim Joo-hyung completed a sweep of individual and team gold Korea Economic Daily's feed reported he was in position for a double after the third round, while Hankook Ilbo reported Korea finished second to China in the team event.
- How Kim's individual rounds counted toward Korea's team total Hankook Ilbo describes the team format — the combined scores of two players per round — but does not say whether Kim's scores were among those counted.
- Full details of the Woods message beyond the quoted line Only Kim's account, relayed by the outlets, is available; Chosun Ilbo, Korea Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo carry only feed summaries without article text.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on Kim Joo-hyung receiving an encouraging message from Tiger Woods (Oct. 3). [ 1 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports Kim won the individual title at 18-under 262, three strokes clear, after an eagle on the 13th hole (Oct. 3). [ 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily's feed carries a report that Kim had taken the sole lead after the third round and was in position to sweep individual and team gold (Oct. 4). [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the gold was Korea's first in the men's individual event since Kim Min-hwi at the 2010 Guangzhou Games (Oct. 4). [ 4 ]