Gareth Bale admits nerves with ex-footballer ‘out of his comfort zone’ before teeing off in first PGA Tour golf event

Gareth Bale admitted he was feeling nervous ahead of his appearance at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday.

It was Bale’s first appearance at a PGA Tour event and before taking the start the Welshman revealed he was ‘out of his comfort zone’.

The former Real Madrid star is one of 156 amateurs taking part alongside 156 professionals and started in fine fashion with a normal stop at the second hole from the cart path.

Asked if he was feeling nervous ahead of the event, Bale replied: “I think every fan will tell you he’s out of his comfort zone, even though we’re used to playing in front of 80,000. people or more live on television. It’s a completely different sport.

“It’s something that’s just different and it’s a cool experience, and I’m lucky to have had one of my best shots on the first fairway, which was nice.”

Bale was paired with Joseph Bramlett for the first three rounds and admits he watches and learns from the professional.

“We met about a year ago and we just talked during the year,” added Bale.

“I told him last week, let’s prepare for this week. He had a great week last week and what a player.

“He’s a world class player. Just watching these players play you can learn things and how they run their business and how they do it.

“It’s just nice to watch and capture things, their behavior, their focus.

“It’s different from what we were used to but it’s similar to my trade. We have similar traits, it’s so fantastic to play with him today.

Bale is already reaping the rewards of his time with Bramlett, it seems.

The professional putt Bale on the second hole instead of picking up the ball and it was on for the five-time Champions League winner.

Indeed, that professional experience came in handy on the second hole when, instead of picking up the ball, Bramlett made Bale putt for the “biggest back and forth” and he was off.

“I’m more worried about how I ended up [on the path] in the first place, but I guess a lot of amateurs find themselves in that position,” Bale said.

“It was a good shot and I just tried to play in the bank and hope for the best like most amateurs do.

“It was nice to see him rolling good and close and he was pretty much in par so I was like ‘I’m going to pick him up’ and he made me putt because he was like ‘it’s going to be the best -and down.”