Gareth Bale’s misstep at tournament leaves fans disappointed
Gareth Bale squandered an opportunity to pocket $10 million (£7.3 million) at the Icon Series golf tournament in Bangkok over the weekend, with his hole-in-one attempt going wildly astray, reports BritPanorama.
The 36-year-old former Real Madrid winger, now a scratch golfer, was competing at Reignwood alongside numerous other retired footballers. Instead of landing in the cup for the jackpot prize, Bale’s wayward effort soared off target, unfortunately striking a spectator seated in the stands.
The Welshman could only manage a wry grin as both fans and the cameraman scrambled to take cover from the errant ball. Bale’s day deteriorated further as Team World, which included Dwight Yorke, suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to Team England, ending with a final scoreline of 20-19 in favour of the English side.
Amidst an impressive roster of footballing legends, which featured David Ginola, Ruud Gullit, and Gianfranco Zola, Bale’s individual match saw him paired against Jimmy Bullard, the former Fulham and Wigan Athletic midfielder. At one point, Bale found himself trailing by four holes but managed to stage an impressive fightback to level the contest, securing a draw against his English opponent.
Unfortunately for the retired footballer, his personal recovery proved insufficient to alter the overall outcome for Team World, which ultimately fell short in their bid to defeat Team England. The only point he salvaged from his battle with Bullard was not enough to shift the team result.
Beyond the tournament action, Bale expressed his aspirations for golf’s oldest major championship to be staged in his home nation. “I’d love for The Open to come to Wales. 100 per cent,” he stated, highlighting Royal Porthcawl as the ideal venue given its previous hosting of both the Senior Open and Women’s Open.
“It’s definitely one of the best links courses in the world. And I definitely think it’s of a major championship standard,” Bale added, describing the prospect of bringing The Open to Wales as something that “would be incredible” and “a massive feat for Wales.”
As Bale reflects on his golf career post-retirement, it is a reminder that while the fairways might prove a different battlefield, the pursuit of excellence remains ever-present.
