Jon Rahm, the World No. 3 and US Open winner was left amazed by Gareth Bale’s golf ability after he played nine holes with the former Real Madrid Star at Torrey Pines.
Gareth Bale, the former Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Wales star player, announced his retirement from football earlier this month and will be participating in the upcoming AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February alongside some other celebrities and some of the world’s top golfers.
Bale was practicing by playing alongside the Spanish great, who has won both of his most recent PGA Tour competitions, before the California tournament. The Spanish star was playing in the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
But it seems that Bale has made an effect on Rahm, who believes that the former football player has room to improve in his second sport.
Although Gareth Bale’s football career may have ended, it seems his golf career is about to get started.
However, Rahm appeared untroubled during the preparation and joined Bale in a pre-tournament Pro-Am on Tuesday. He had nothing but appreciation for his colleague.
Rahm said in a press conference before the competition: “I told Gareth that it just didn’t seem fair to be so successful at professional football and golf at the same time. It’s not fair in the slightest that someone with this much aptitude for golf cannot devote themselves to one thing.
“He shouldn’t be so talented considering he plays professional football. He’ll improve greatly once he can practice more.”
The Spaniard has now won four of his last six competitions and hasn’t had a finish outside of the top eight in any of his previous seven starts.
Jon Rahm, who recently won the American Express Tournament and now has nine PGA Tour victories, is tied with Seve Ballesteros in that regard.
It’s no secret that Bale adores golf. Because he was fascinated with the game, his Madrid teammate Thibaut Courtois first named him “The Golfer” in 2019.
When Wales qualified for Euro 2020, he even made an appearance holding a sign that read, “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.” Given that he is so close to “scratch” and has been playing golf off a two handicap as of late 2022, Wales’ Bale is an above-average amateur golfer, yet he is still not quite as good as the professionals.
From February 2 to 5, 156 amateurs and the same number of professionals, including world No. 5 Patrick Cantlay and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, will compete at Pebble Beach.
Actor Bill Murray and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers are among the other famous people identified as appearing in the play.
