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[ad_1] LONDON: Gareth Bale said on Monday he will play in golf's Pebble Beach Pro-Am event in February, just weeks after the former Real Madrid and Wales star announced his retirement from football. Bale, who hung up his boots earlier in January, will join a number of other celebrities at the famous Californian links course along with some of the world's top golf professionals. The 33-year-old wrote on Instagram: "Delighted to announce I will be playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the start of next month! Let's go." Former Tottenham forward Bale won five Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real but retained a passion for golf that once angered Madrid fans. While on international duty with Wales, he posed with a banner that read, 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order'. Bale, who ended his club career with Los Angeles FC, played for Wales at last year's World Cup in Qatar before deciding to retire. Now he has ti

[ad_1] LONDON: Life after Gareth Bale appeared bleak for Wales, but Rob Page's men have the chance of a third consecutive appearance at the European Championship in their own hands after a remarkable turnaround in Euro 2024 qualifying. Page's job was reportedly in danger after a damaging 4-2 home defeat to Armenia was followed by a 2-0 loss away to Turkey in June. However, a famous 2-1 win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in Cardiff last month has given Wales new hope they can make it to Germany next year and fuelled optimism for the future. Wales still need two wins from their final two games in Group D, away to Armenia and home to already-qualified Turkey, to guarantee qualification. But they do have the safety net of being virtually assured of a playoff place thanks to their ranking in the Nations League. "We want to win both games to qualify as it's in our own hands," said Page. "We didn't like what we saw in June. We put things r

[ad_1] CNN  —  Few tuning in to watch the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday will have been surprised to learn that former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is good at golf. After all, the Welshman made no secret of his love for the game throughout a glittering soccer career that he called time on in January. Yet, just how natural the former Tottenham Hotspur and Real forward looks on the fairways has taken many aback after an impressive first round showing on his PGA Tour debut in California. Playing alongside professional partner Joseph Bramlett, Bale carded a seven-under 65 on the notoriously challenging Spyglass Hill course to finish the day five shots behind the Pro-Am’s leading duo, the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes’ owner Tom Dundon and American pro golfer Will Gordon. As a five-time Champions League winner and one of the most decorated players of his generat