Gareth Bale announces he will play in golf tournament just two weeks after retiring as he turns hand to beloved sport
GARETH BALE has taken his love for golf to another level after announcing that he will play in a PGA tour event next month.
It’s just 15 days since the Wales legend announced his retirement from football, but he’s wasted little time in taking the next step in his career.
Bale has always made his admiration for golf public and famously held up a flag that read “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order” after the Dragons qualified for Euro 2020.
He even appeared to ban himself from the simulator at Wales’ World Cup hotel in Qatar as he looked to avoid injury during the tournament.
But with that no longer a concern, he’ll now play in his first competition in California in February.
The 33-year-old will join 156 amateurs and professionals, including Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Patrick Cantlay, at Pebble Beach from 2-5 February.
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Bale, who had a handicap of three back in 2021, said on Instagram: “Verified Delighted to announce I will be playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the start of next month! Let’s go .”
Despite Bale’s retirement from football, he’s still set to be offered a role in the Wales set–up.
The ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid star has held talks with Page and could make a non-playing comeback ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers in March in either a coaching or ambassadorial role.
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Page said: “I’ve had that conversation but I would love him still to be involved in some capacity.
“Now what that role is, we don’t know yet.
“He just needs some time with his family. It’s a big adjustment for him, training every day to go into a normalish life and doing the school run, but we’ll have another conversation with him in a few weeks.
“We’ll make a plan moving forward because he’s got so much to offer.
“Even his presence in the dressing room, the hotel environment is something I would be really keen on to keep him involved, but I’ll leave it up to Gareth and what suits him and his family. I think he would be keen as well.”