Moment Scottie Scheffler embraces emotional Tom Kim at the 2024 Olympics as South Korean golf star fails to avoid mandatory military service after missing out on medal

Scottie Scheffler could beryllium seen comforting an affectional South Korean play prima who grounded to triumph an Olympic badge which would person spared him subject work connected Sunday.

Tom Kim, 22, was seen crying successful nan nine location astatine Le Golf National pursuing his last information aft missing retired connected a podium decorativeness astatine this summer's Olympic play tournament.

Not only had he travel up short successful his bid to triumph a medal, but Kim had besides grounded to unafraid exemption from mandatory subject work successful his autochthonal South Korea.

It is rule successful South Korea that each men - unless exempt - must complete 18-21 months of subject work and they must enlist earlier nan property of 28.

Some men are fixed exemptions based connected beingness and intelligence wellness issues, while it is not uncommon for rich families to nonstop children to overseas schools to summation duel citizenship.

Another measurement to get excused from conscription successful South Korea is to triumph an Olympic badge of immoderate color, aliases a golden astatine nan Asian Games.

Kim could still debar subject work by winning golden astatine nan 2026 Asian Games successful Japan aliases immoderate badge astatine nan 2028 Olympics successful Los Angeles. 

However, aft letting a chance to norm it retired gaffe done his fingers nan South Korean was visibly affectional some connected nan people and successful nan clubhouse. 

Scheffler, nan existent world No 1, captured nan golden badge aft posting a people record-tying 62 to spot disconnected title from Tommy Fleetwood.

And arsenic he nervously waited to find retired if his people was capable for gold, nan two-time Masters champion was pictured consoling Kim aft his chap PGA Tour star's devastating blow.

Fans were speedy to heap praise connected Scheffler for nan prestigious motion while his ain Olympic hopes were hanging successful nan balance.

One wrote: 'Scottie is an unthinkable quality being, truthful overmuch class'.

Another put: 'Great friends. Keep ya heads up Tom!'

While a 3rd commented: 'Incredible humility by Scottie Scheffler - delivers a last 9 that will triumph him nan Gold, but has nan beingness of mind to comfortableness his friend Tom Kim who misses nan chance to debar mandatory subject work successful Korea. Another signature triumph for nan no.1.'

Kim came associated eighth astatine nan Paris Games, missing retired connected a bronze badge by 4 strokes. 

Scheffler, meanwhile, produced a precocious barrage of birdies which fired him into apical spot aft nan 17th astatine Le Golf National.

Fleetwood was forced to settee for metallic successful France, while Hideki Matsuyama made up nan apical 3 pinch nan Japanese prima shooting a final-round 65 to clinch a bronze badge connected -17.