Welsh soccer legend Gareth Bale solely retired from the round-ball recreation in January, however he’s already set to make his official PGA Tour {golfing} debut on Friday morning (AEDT).
Bale is one in all 156 amateurs competing alongside 156 professionals on the well-known Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.
The listing of beginner stars embody two NFL quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen – the latter even skipping the Pro Bowl this weekend to compete – in addition to Hollywood icon Bill Murray and rapper Macklemore.
But the golf-obsessed Bale boasts a two handicap, rating him equal-Tenth among the many amateurs teeing off at Pebble Beach.
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33-year-old Bale nabbed 5 Champions League titles at Real Madrid, however his nine-year stint on the iconic Spanish membership was tainted by fixed criticism that he cared extra for his {golfing} passion than what occurred on the soccer pitch.
After qualifying for Euro 2022 with Wales, his teammates famously held aloft a banner studying: “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order”.
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The iconic banner that despatched Real Madrid followers and media wild.Source: Twitter
Now Bale, who has a three-hole golf course at his house, is lastly set to take his love of the game to the subsequent degree.
He performed 9 holes alongside world quantity 10 and former main winner Matt Fitzpatrick on Wednesday, leaving the previous main winner extremely impressed. Fitzpatrick stated: “he’s clearly an excellent participant. He has clearly obtained loads of expertise. Yeah, he was spectacular.”
Last week Bale teed off with Jon Rahm, the 2021 US Open winner and present world quantity three – and blew the Spanish star away along with his prowess.
“I informed Gareth, you possibly can’t be so good at skilled soccer and golf on the similar time, it simply doesn’t appear truthful,” Rahm stated. “Can’t be devoted to at least one factor and have this a lot expertise for golf, it’s not truthful within the slightest.”
Rahm stated Bale’s two handicap was ‘mistaken’ and never reflective of his expertise, and revealed the previous footballer didn’t ask {the golfing} professional for any suggestions of their 9 holes collectively.
“He didn’t ask for something, nor ought to he be asking, he’s already adequate,” Rahm stated. “Like I stated, he has no enterprise being that good when he’s an expert soccer participant.
“The second he’s completed and he can truly apply extra, he’s going to get so much higher.”
Bale will play alongside 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Championship winner Joseph Bramlett for the opening three rounds in California.
LIVE protection of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am begins on Foxtel and Kayo on Friday from 4.15am AEDT (featured teams, Fox Sports 503) with full spherical protection from 7am AEDT on Fox Sports 503.
Watch each spherical of the PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive on Fox Sports, out there on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
