Bale stuns onlookers

Few tuning in to watch the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday would have been surprised to learn that former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale was good at golf, but the former Real Madrid forward caught many by surprise 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.

Just three months ago, Bale was his country's captain at the Qatar World Cup. But the 33-year-old's overwhelming highlight this time came on the second hole when Bale was given a drop on a cart path close to the green.

Faced with an awkward route over a curb, Bale sent a ricocheting shot bouncing off the bank and onto the green, the ball trickling to within four feet of the hole for a par-saving putt.

In the moment, Bale's first thought was to check the nearby cameras had captured the effort. "It was a great shot. Just tried to put it into the bank and hope for the best, like most amateurs do. It was nice to see it roll up nice and close," he said.