Gareth Bale gets first hole-in-one at iconic PGA Tour venue

Gareth Bale celebrated like he had just scored another match-winning goal in the Champions League final.

The feeling of nailing his first-ever hole-in-one at such a venerable golf course seemed just as exhilarating for the Wales hero.

Bale has been accustomed to producing iconic sporting moments, but this ace at the famous Torrey Pines may prove nearly as unforgettable as any of his exploits on the pitch.

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The 33-year-old, who is enjoying retirement testing his golfing skills on some of the most iconic golf courses Stateside, holed out on the 200-yard par-3 third on the South Course at Torrey Pines – which is a two-time US Open and regular PGA Tour venue.

Few amateurs are fortunate enough to achieve the feat in their lifetimes, but the fact this effort from Bale was captured on film makes this hole-in-one all the more special.

In the video, Bale’s friend Ollie Schindler calls the shot, telling the former Real Madrid star: “Hole-in-one time, never had one, this is the hole to do it.”

😂 "Gareth Bale, he doesn't just do bicycle kicks."

Take a bow, @GarethBale11! ⛳️ #BBCFootball #GarethBale pic.twitter.com/Xaky0ijE4w

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) May 18, 2023

And Bale somehow managed to oblige, firing straight at the pin and jumping around in a frenzy in sheer disbelief about what he had just done.

“First ever hole-in-one @torreypinesgolf South course, hole no3 great commentary by @ollieschindler,” Bale captioned the video on Instagram.

The clip has unsurprisingly gone viral, with former Madrid teammates Keylor Navas and Marcelo both congratulating Bale on his achievement.

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Golf-loving Bale’s ability will surely only improve with more time spent on his game and he took full advantage of post-football opportunities when offered a spot at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Masters champion Jon Rahm was notably excited about his talents during a practice round in California, while US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick said Bale’s game is already “impressive.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.