Tom Kim has kicked off his Asian Games campaign with a round of 67 to sit two shots off the lead.
The South Korean rushed from the Presidents Cup on Sunday to Japan where he bids for a gold medal to avoid military service.
Able-bodied men must complete 18-21 months of military service in South Korea before their 28th birthday with special exemptions granted for athletes and classic artists who excel in certain international competitions tied to national prestige. It means 24-year-old Kim has just over two years to avoid military service or his golf career will be put on hold.
Kim needs to win the gold medal at the Asian Games in either the individual or team competition, or win any medal at the 2028 Olympics held in Los Angeles.
The field for the Asian Games is much weaker than Kim is used to facing on the PGA Tour; Keita Nakajima (96th in the OWGR) is the most recognisable name outside of the Korean contingent, with the handful of Asians who play their trade on the PGA Tour skipping the Games.
Many amateurs are teeing it up in Japan, and South Korea are expected to take gold, with Japan their most dangerous opponent.
Each day, the two best scores from each team are counted towards the team score, while the individual leaderboard comprises every player's 72-hole score across the week.
Kim is currently two shots off leaders Kazuki Higa and Wang Wei-hsuan after the first round, with South Korea two shots back of Japan in the team event.
