Military service looming for Bae

South Korean golfer Bae Sang-moon may have to put his burgeoning PGA Tour career on hold to complete military service.
The Yonhap news agency reported that the 28-year-old, two-time PGA Tour winner had his overseas travel permit extension request rejected by the Military Manpower Administration in South Korea.
According to his mother, Bae was ordered to return home and complete compulsory military service.
Bae, who had already qualified for next year’s Masters at Augusta, will face criminal charges if he does not return to Korea by the end of January.
All South Korean men between 18 and 35 must complete two years of military service.
Technically, South Korea is still at war with North Korea as a peace treaty went unsigned following the 1950-53 Korean War.
Some athletes have been able to circumvent the requirement, with the Korean government waiving the mandatory practice for any athlete who wins Asian Games gold or an Olympic medal.
Bae won the Frys.Com Open in October, and also triumphed at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2013.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg
-
PGA Tour
Lee Kyoung-Hoon shoots his lowest round on the tour to retain Texas title
Dallas-born Jordan Spieth went close with a chip for eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
-
European Tour
Sam Horsfield ‘so happy’ after winning Soudal Open to secure another title
Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling final-round battle.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Rose still has drive to succeed as ‘exciting challenge’ of US PGA arrives
Rose won the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in Rio three years later, but has not tasted victory since February 2019.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods will expect to do better at US PGA Championship – Curtis Strange
Woods returned to top-level action after a long injury absence with a 47th-placed finished at the Masters.
-
PGA Championship
Defending champion Phil Mickelson withdraws from US PGA Championship
The six-time major winner has been taking a break from golf.
-
PGA Tour
English rookie David Skinns shares lead in Texas
The 40-year-old from Lincoln shot a second-round 63 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth looking for career grand slam at US PGA Championship
The presence or absence of defending champion Phil Mickelson which will dominate the conversation at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
5 contenders to win the US PGA Championship
Tiger Woods could contend for victory in Tulsa.
-
News
We’ve got your back – Greg Norman promises to defend players on breakaway tour
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are among the professionals to have asked for the required release to play the first event at Centurion Club.