WATCH: Gareth Bale pulls off a 'perfect' Road Hole tee shot at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Gareth Bale teed it up on the famous Road Hole of the Old Course at St Andrews while competing at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Welsh former football player has joined professional golfer Daniel Brown on the greens for this week’s DP World Tour event.

The tournament features a stellar field with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel, Brooks Koepka, and Matt Fitzpatrick. The professionals teed it up in a group with amateur players.

Daniel Brown and Gareth Bale also teed it up at the tournament, and during its first round on Thursday, October 3, the former footballer played at the prestigious Old Course at St Andrews and took a shot at the famous par-4 17th hole, known as the Road Hole. The hole is popular for its difficulty, imposing several challenges for players.

According to the official website of The Open, the Road Hole is:

"Undoubtedly the Old Course's most demanding test and regarded by many as the toughest par-4 in golf. It has consistently played to a scoring average well above its par at The Open, including an average of 4.79 in 1984, and 4.65 when St Andrews last hosted the Championship in 2015. "

DP World Tour shared a video clip of Gareth Bale playing on the famous hole, writing:

"@GarethBale11 takes on the famous Road Hole tee shot..."

Brown and Bale's pair settled for a par on the hole. They played well in the first round and tied for seventh place on the leaderboard.

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A look Into Gareth Bale and Daniel Brown's performance at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Bale and Brown were impressive in the opening round of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. They started their game on the tenth hole of the Old Course with a birdie.

The pair then made an eagle on the par-4 12th hole, followed by another eagle on the 14th. In the first round of the event, they shot seven birdies and three eagles for a score of 13-under 59. They settled in a four-way tie for seventh place.

Gareth Bale has been active in golf since announcing his unexpected retirement from football in 2023. He made his debut in golf at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament soon after his retirement and has since actively participated in pro-am tournaments of various official golf events.

Although he is an avid golfer, Bale doesn’t have plans to turn professional in golf. Last year, he competed in the Ryder Cup All-Star Match in a field graced by Novak Djokovic, Kipp Popert, and Garrett Hilbert, among others.

Bale opened up about his plans to turn pro, saying (via WalesOnline):

“No, absolutely not. All I can see is everything saying give up. I think I’ll give up before I start! Even if you get to a scratch, obviously it is great."

Meanwhile, Bale is enjoying his time playing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, October 6.