Gareth Bale was the marquee name among a glittering roster of celebrities at the Wednesday BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro‑Am, while Rory McIlroy turned heads with a blistering 12‑under‑par round of 60. McIlroy’s squad, which featured former Great Britain field hockey star Sam Quek, former England cricketer Stuart Broad and Formula 1 mechanic Calum Nicholas, dominated the morning Pro‑Am, finishing seven strokes clear of the nearest competitors.
Bale, who boasts a handicap of 1.1, was paired with several other ex‑footballers, including Chelsea icons John Terry and Eden Hazard, as well as Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. In a pre‑round interview with Sky Sports News, Bale voiced optimism about Tottenham Hotspur’s prospects under manager Roberto De Zerbi, acknowledging that the team had endured a patchy spell of form. "Sometimes it takes a bit of time for a side to settle," Bale said. "The manager has shown he can produce attractive football.
With a wave of new signings, I think they’ll start to click if given a little patience." He added that Spurs now have the personnel to mount a serious push for European competition next season. The morning session also saw Bale tee up alongside Swedish rising star Ludvig Åberg, cricket great Brian Lara and former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. Their mixed‑ability group posted a combined 23‑under‑par total, placing them 15th in the Pro‑Am leaderboard. The afternoon round ended in a dead heat.
JJ Spaun’s team – which included Amir Karimpour, Romain Peugeot and Kris Adams – matched the score of Eugenio Chacarra’s squad, featuring Chris Hawkins, Darren Hall and Alex Bentley. Both teams recorded a 36‑under‑par aggregate, sharing the top honors for the second half of the day.
Reflecting on Manchester City’s recent derby victory, Hart praised the Citizens’ display as "exceptional" and predicted they could keep Arsenal at bay in the Premier League title race. "It was a strange game," he told Sky Sports. "I don’t think Haaland’s goal should have stood, but the overall performance was outstanding. It’s a vital win to kick off the season." McLaren’s Formula 1 chief Zak Brown also took part in the Pro‑Am, joining European Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose – who switched to McLaren‑branded clubs earlier in the season – and finishing fifth in the afternoon session.
Brown was further supported by McLaren driver Lando Norris, who joked about returning the favor to his boss. "When you want something, you have to give something back," Norris said. "I tried to give him a little challenge on the tee – I was hoping his drive would go out of bounds!" McIlroy, who had explained at Tuesday’s pre‑tournament press conference that he was still fine‑tuning elements of his swing, delivered a spectacular performance in the Pro‑Am.
His 60‑stroke round featured a birdie on the third hole, an eagle on the fourth, and an astonishing run of eight consecutive birdies. Although the Pro‑Am does not record scores above par, McIlroy did make a bogey on the 16th, which is not reflected in the official tally.
The 60 is not a formal tournament score, but it underscores McIlroy’s current form. His personal best at the BMW PGA Championship is a 65, while his lowest ever round on the DP World Tour is a 62, achieved at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Championship.
Fresh from a tied‑41st finish at the Amgen Irish Open, McIlroy seemed to find his rhythm early, shooting 10‑under through the first eleven holes, according to Broad’s commentary on Sky Sports Cricket. "He didn’t miss any putts," Broad observed. "I was joking, ‘He should wear the same clothes tomorrow, same ball.’ If he wants us to walk the course with him, he’s more than welcome!
He looked completely in the zone on the front nine – calm, relaxed, and utterly focused." The event also featured a series of video highlights and analysis segments, with Sky Sports urging viewers to use Chrome for optimal playback. Throughout the day, additional storylines emerged, including Aaron Rai’s surge to a joint‑lead after the first round of the main tournament and Justin Rose’s unexpected double‑bogey after a wayward three‑putt. Looking ahead, the BMW PGA Championship continues to unfold over the week, with live coverage slated to begin each morning at 7:30 am on Sky Sports Golf.
Fans can also stream the action via NOW without a contract, taking advantage of the latest Sky Sports deals. The tournament promises further drama, as the field of world‑class golfers battles for the coveted title, while the celebrity Pro‑Am adds a light‑hearted, charitable dimension to the prestigious event.