Gareth Bale celebrated like he'd scored one of his trademark screamers after hitting his first ever hole in one.
The Welsh superstar, who retired from football in January after a spell with MLS side Los Angeles FC last year, is a golfing fanatic and currently spending plenty of time improving his game. Bale, 33, took to Torrey Pines this week, a course which has hosted the US Open on two occasions, once in 2008 and again in 2021.
In a video posted on Instagram, the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star showed off his feat, carefully lining himself up on the third hole of the south course before sinking his shot. Once the ball had rolled in, Bale leapt into the air in celebration and high-fived those playing alongside him.
Some ex-team-mates from his footballing days congratulated him, with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas replying with a series of emojis and adding: "Top." Meanwhile, Real Madrid legend Marcelo reacted by using two fire emojis.
Bale has been making the most of his spare time in retirement, although he's had one big offer to make a return next season. Welsh club Wrexham, who were promoted to League Two last month, have been courting his signature, as Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney attempt to bring him back to the pitch.
Both Reynolds and McElhenney have issued multiple public pleas, but Bale hasn't changed his mind on hanging up his boots. Agent Jonathan Barnett, who continues to represent the 33-year-old, confirmed to The Sun : "I can say there will be no move to Wrexham. Gareth doesn't want to play football anymore."
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Recently, Bale was spotted visiting a school in south-east England with his five-year-old son, Axel. "He seems intent on moving to the south east," a source told the newspaper. Barnett's comments came after the ex- Wales international played down the speculation in April, having been asked about joining Wrexham while at the recent Sports Industry Awards.
"No, I don't think so," Bale, whose career can be regarded as one of the finest in British football history, replied. "[I'm] spending a lot of time with my kids and my wife, time that I've lost so much of over the years being committed to football."
Yet American actor McElhenney, who bought Wrexham alongside Reynolds in 2021, still made another plea while appearing on The Aarthi and Sriram Show. "If you could just come back for one last year of glory, one last year," he said. "I believe your nation, the nation of Wales... do the right thing. Call me."
