Did Gareth Bale THIN insane cart path recovery shot? This is what he said...

Gareth Bale produced a remarkable recovery shot on his PGA Tour debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but did the former Wales captain mean it?

Ben Smith's picture
Fri, 3 Feb 2023
Did Gareth Bale THIN insane cart path recovery shot? This is what he said...

Gareth Bale says there was "a lot of luck" involved in the shot he hit from the cart path on his PGA Tour debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but appeared to insist that he meant it. 

Former Wales captain Bale, 33, is in a strong position after the first round having carded a 7-under 65 at the Spyglass Hill course. 

Bale and his playing partner Joseph Bramlett found themselves T-18th after day one, with American Hank Lebioda leading the individual competition. 

The highlight of Bale's round came early when he produced a remarkable recovery shot off a cart path. 

He didn't need to putt out as Bramlet had already tidied up for par, but Bale was encouraged by his playing partner to make the up-and-down. 

Watch the shot here: 

So did Bale mean it? 

Bale said he it was a great shot, adding: 

"I was more worried how I was there in the first place. But, yeah, I guess a lot of amateurs find themselves out of position.
"Yeah, it was a great shot. Just tried to put it into the bank and hope for the best, like most amateurs do. It was nice to see it roll up nice and close."

 

He added: 

"Yeah, he was pretty much in for par so I was like, Oh, I'll pick it up. He made me putt it because he's like, It's going to be the greatest up-and-down. So I finished it off nicely. It was a great shot. I can't really say much more."

So did Bale thin it? 

"So, I couldn't play it proper because there was a curb in front of me. In my practice swing I hit the curb. So I was like I have to really like dig it.
"I put it back in my stance and hit it into the bank. So of course there was a lot of luck involved, don't get me wrong. But, yeah, the shot that I guess I tried to play and you need a bit of luck along the way."

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How exactly did his golf ball end up there?

"That's the worrying thing. I didn't realize it was on a bit of a side slope and just kind of pushed it. The wind took it a bit more. It kicked off the bank on the side of the green and ended there.
"But amateurs are used to being there, so we've a lot more practice than the pros in those positions."

Bale said immediately after he hit the shot he asked the camera man if he filmed it. "It was a great day," he said. 

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