Gareth Bale was impressed with his golfing skill during the opening round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.<br /><br />Facing a shot off the greenside cart path, Bale pulled his wedge out to try and land the ball softly near the cup.<br /><br />He bounced the ball off the edge of the pavement - sending the ball flying over most of the rough.<br /><br />Allen surprised NFL fans by turning up to this event, just days after saying that he would be skipping the Pro Bowl Games.<br /><br />The quarterback said that he'd be sitting out the festivities in Las Vegas due to an elbow injury.<br /><br />Bale just recently announced his retirement from professional football, just months after he led Wales in their first World Cup since 1958.<br /><br />Last week, Bale took part in another Pro-Am just before the Farmers Insurance Open teed off at Torrey Pines in San Diego.<br /><br />His play drew praise from Spanish golfer Jon Rahm - who said it 'doesn't seem fair' that Bale is 'so good at football and golf'.<br /><br />Bale's love of golf is well known and he is said to have a three-hole golf course at his house but the hobby had been a controversial issue during his soccer career. <br /><br />It was a source of contempt in particular during his time with Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles.<br /><br />He posed, while on international duty with Wales, with a banner that read, 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order' - a move which sparked a backlash among supporters of the club.
