Gareth Bale grins with Rory McIlroy as pair tee off in PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am at Wentworth
GARETH BALE has been paired with Rory McIlroy for the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am.
It is the second time this year the former Real Madrid star will appear on the PGA Tour, having partnered Joseph Bramlett at the Pebble Beach pro-am.
Bale, 34, is also set to feature in the Ryder Cup celebrity All-Star match alongside Novak Djokovic later this month.
So he got some much-needed practice in under high pressure stakes at the BMW PGA Championship.
But if there was any pressure Bale did not show it as he joked with McIlroy before teeing off.
Three-time major winner McIlroy was also seen sharing a laugh with another former footballer at Wentworth, Jermaine Jenas.
He is one of five former football stars taking part alongside John Terry, Ben Foster and Theo Walcott, with Ryder Cup Team Europe member Tyrell Hatton partnering the latter duo.
Another golfer set to star in the Ryder Cup, Tommy Fleetwood, was paired with Terry.
England legends from a different sport, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, linked up alongside Justin Rose.
While fellow bowler Ollie Robinson caddied for golf YouTuber Mia Baker.
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The pair are rumoured to be dating following Robinson’s split from his long-term girlfriend Lauren Rose Pullen.
There was also representation for horse racing with legend Sir AP McCoy lining up with owner J.P. McManus.
Hollywood actor Tom Holland, most famous for playing Spiderman, also played and was spotted alongside his twin brothers Sam and Harry – he played with John Rahm.
Last year’s winner of the BMW PGA Championship Shane Lowry also returned to try and defend his title – a feat not achieved since Team Europe captain Luke Donald managed it in 2012.
Bale even had time for a chat and discussed the potential of Jude Bellingham, who has followed Bale’s footsteps by joining Real Madrid.
He said of the England star: “He’s obviously had a great start at Madrid, he’s scoring goals which is important especially at a club like that.
“To get off to a good start to life at Madrid is always important. He’s doing well and hopefully he can keep doing Britain proud.
“The sky’s his limit. If he keeps working hard and doing what he’s the doing then like I said, the sky is the limit for him.”