Gareth Bale was the marquee name among a glittering roster of celebrities at Wednesday's BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro‑Am, while Rory McIlroy produced a spectacular 12‑under‑par round of 60. McIlroy’s squad, featuring former Great Britain hockey star Sam Quek, ex‑England cricketer Stuart Broad and Formula 1 mechanic Calum Nicholas, dominated the morning Pro‑Am, pulling away by seven strokes to claim the top spot. The Welsh footballer, who carries a 1.1 handicap, was joined in the event by a host of former soccer greats, including Chelsea legends John Terry and Eden Hazard, as well as Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler. In a pre‑round interview with Sky Sports News, Bale voiced his optimism for Tottenham Hotspur under manager Roberto De Zerbi, noting that the team needed a little time to settle after a patchy spell of form.
“Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get them to settle in,” he said. “The manager has shown he can produce good football. There are a lot of new signings and, with a little patience, they should start delivering.” Bale added that Spurs now possess the personnel to mount a serious challenge for a European place next season. The afternoon session saw a tightly contested finish.
JJ Spaun’s team, which included Amir Karimpour, Romain Peugeot and Kris Adams, ended up level with Eugenio Chacarra’s side – featuring Chris Hawkins, Darren Hall and Alex Bentley – as both groups posted a combined 36‑under‑par score. Bale’s own group, comprising Ludvig Åberg, cricket legend Brian Lara and former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, recorded a respectable 15th‑place finish with a total of 23‑under‑par. After the match, Hart praised Manchester City’s recent derby performance, calling it "exceptional" and suggesting the club could push Arsenal to the brink in the Premier League title race. "It was such a strange game," Hart told Sky Sports News.
"I don’t think Haaland’s goal should have stood, but their performance was exceptional. It was a really important result to start the season." The Pro‑Am also featured a cameo from McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown, who teamed up with European Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose – a recent convert to McLaren‑branded clubs – and finished fifth in the afternoon round. Brown was backed up by McLaren driver Lando Norris, who joked about supporting his boss: "I have got to support my boss. When you want something, you’ve got to give something back in return.
I was annoyed when he hit a good tee shot; I wanted him to hit it out of bounds!" McIlroy, who admitted during Tuesday’s pre‑tournament press conference that he was still fine‑tuning elements of his swing, delivered a masterclass on Wednesday. Although his 60 does not count as an official tournament round, it eclipsed his previous best of 65 at the BMW PGA Championship and beat his career‑low on the DP World Tour – a 62 recorded at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Championship. Fresh off a tied‑41st finish at the Amgen Irish Open, McIlroy opened with a birdie on the third hole, an eagle on the fourth, and then proceeded to string together eight straight birdies. "Rory McIlroy was incredible; he was 10‑under through 11," Sky Sports commentator Stuart Broad observed.
"He didn’t miss any putts, and I was joking with him, saying, ‘He’s got to wear the same clothes tomorrow, same ball.’ If he wants us to walk around with him, he’s more than welcome! He looked in the zone on that front nine – very calm, very relaxed." The event also highlighted several broader stories on the DP World Tour.
Headlines this week include the 2026 BMW PGA Championship field and prize fund, Matt Fitzpatrick’s concerns about playing in Middle‑East events amid geopolitical tension, and a schedule shift for the 2027 championship due to the Ryder Cup. Tiger Woods made headlines as the PGA Tour released footage of his first round of golf since the March car accident, and he expressed confidence in a full comeback. Fans can follow the ongoing battle for the BMW PGA Championship title with live coverage throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, beginning Thursday at 7:30 am.
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