Gareth Bale Hits the Track and Tees Off in Munich

The week of the BMW Worldwide Open at all times brings a mixture of top-tier golf and movie star cameos, however this yr, Gareth Bale made certain to depart his mark each on and off the course. Earlier than stepping onto the fairways at Golfclub München Eichenried, the previous Actual Madrid star headed to the BMW M Driving Expertise in Maisach, the place he swapped golf sneakers for driving gloves—and had a correct go behind the wheel of a BMW M4 Competition.

There, Bale accomplished a full BMW Security Driver Coaching course. That included high-speed evasive maneuvers, wet-surface drifting, and a little bit of tire-smoking enjoyable—precisely the type of factor you’d count on from somebody used to performing beneath strain in entrance of 80,000 followers. “I performed in Munich in soccer for Actual Madrid fairly a couple of instances, and had some superb outcomes, so Munich has been an important place for me,” Bale mentioned. “Coming again to play within the BMW Worldwide Open in the previous few years has been actually enjoyable, loved the course, loved town. It’s at all times good to be again.”

Gareth Bale Trades the Pitch for the Monitor—and the Fairway—on the BMW Worldwide Open

Gareth Bale wants little introduction. Born in Cardiff, the Welsh winger exploded onto the soccer scene with Tottenham earlier than sealing a world-record switch to Actual Madrid in 2013. In Spain, he went on to win 5 Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies, and scored among the most memorable targets in current soccer historical past—together with that jaw-dropping bicycle kick in the 2018 Champions League Final.

However whereas most followers bear in mind Bale for his tempo, energy, and penchant for scoring in large moments, those that’ve adopted him carefully know that golf has at all times been greater than only a passion. He practiced throughout off days, put in a placing inexperienced at residence, and even had a cheeky “Wales. Golf. Madrid.” flag waved in his honor throughout a world break. When Bale introduced his retirement from skilled soccer in 2023, it felt like a full-circle second—he might lastly concentrate on the sport he’d quietly liked for years.

Again on the BMW Worldwide Open—With Acquainted Faces

Now 35, Bale has embraced his new identification as a full-time golfer. He’s already teed it up on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am, the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks, and now returns for his third straight look on the BMW Worldwide Open Professional-Am.

This yr, he wasn’t alone. Bale performed alongside Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, and German NHL stars Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle. Between them, they’ve conquered soccer stadiums, hockey rinks, and now, fairways. And whereas there was loads of good-natured banter, Bale regarded proper at residence with a membership in hand, studying putts and launching drives with the identical calm focus that after helped him win matches for membership and nation.