February 2nd PGA Tour Appearance in the Celebrity Category
Soccer star Gareth Bale (Wales) is set to participate in a PGA Tour event. On the 24th (local time), Bale announced through his social media that "I am pleased to announce that I will be competing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am early next month."
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a PGA Tour event held from February 2nd in Pebble Beach, California, USA. It is famous for featuring not only professional players but also amateur celebrities such as actors and stars from other sports. A total of 156 professional players compete for the championship, while an equal number of celebrities play alongside them and have separate scoring. Bale will participate in the celebrity division.
Bale made his professional debut in 2006 with Southampton in the English Premier League and rose to stardom after transferring to Tottenham the following year. In 2013, he donned the jersey of the Spanish giant Real Madrid.
In 2006, Bale set the record as the youngest ever to debut for the Wales national team. He holds the records for most appearances and most goals for his country’s A team, with 111 matches and 41 goals. At last year’s Qatar World Cup, Bale captained Wales and played on the main stage for the first and last time in his career. Two weeks ago, Bale announced his retirement, saying, "I look forward to and move toward the next stage of my life," adding, "It will be a time of change and transition and an opportunity for a new adventure."
Bale is well known as a golf enthusiast. He has made headlines more for golf than for soccer. His personal best score is 67. During his time at Real Madrid, he was criticized for playing golf even when sidelined due to injury. He loves golf so much that he built the signature 17th hole (par 3) of the PGA Tour’s The Players Championship battleground, TPC Sawgrass, in his backyard.
Bale opened a golf practice facility in his hometown of Cardiff City, which includes a mini golf course with a par 59 layout and a restaurant. He partnered with local businesses to carry out a large-scale golf project. Bale has also served as the host of a European Tour event held in Wales and acts as an ambassador for the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), the governing body of world golf based in the UK.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
