Military-Exempt Kim Joohyung Heads to Mexico with a Lighter Heart
Competes in the fall series' VidantaWorld Mexico Open
Returns to the PGA Tour two months after the Tour Championship
Riding momentum from Asian Games gold, ranked No. 2 in the event power rankings
Kim Joo-hyung returns to the course with a lighter heart.
Kim will compete in the PGA Tour's fall series Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, which has a total purse of $6 million, on October 30 Korea time at Vidanta Vallarta (par 71) in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico. It will be his first PGA Tour event in about two months, since the Tour Championship in late August.
Kim Joo-hyung will vie for victory at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld. AFP-Yonhap
View original imageOn September 3, he won the individual gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Having received an exemption from military service, he took a well-earned break after the Games and enjoyed time to recharge. Kim will seek his second win of the season and fifth of his career without the pressure of military service weighing on him.
Kim is a strong contender at this event. On October 27, the PGA Tour featured the leading players in the field and its power rankings on its website, placing Kim second among the favorites to win.
"While most players in the field will face fierce competition, Kim will arrive at this event fresh off a series of impressive recent achievements," the PGA Tour said. "He has been on a tear this season, finishing third at the U.S. Open, winning the Genesis Scottish Open and taking gold at the Asian Games."
This year's U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, defending champion Brian Campbell, Ben Griffin and Max Homa, all from the United States, will vie for the title. John Daly II, son of John Daly of the United States, is also on the entry list. Tony Finau, also of the United States, has fallen to 107th in the FedExCup standings and will have to fight to stay in contention.
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After the eight fall series events this season, the PGA Tour will award playing privileges for next season to players ranked 100th or lower in the FedExCup standings. This is the fifth event in the fall series.
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