The former Welsh footballer was renowned for his love of the sport during his time at Real Madrid but has dismissed the idea that he could take on the world's top players.

Bale – who retired from football in 2023 – told bunkered magazine: "Everybody asks me if I'm going to turn pro.

"That's not going to happen. Yeah, okay, I'm a scratch golfer but these guys are plus-eights or whatever.

"It's funny because people always ask me about this, and they even ask other people about me and my plans.

"The reality is I'm an okay club golfer but, in terms of the pros, I completely understand not just how good they are but how good they are under pressure.

"I'm very happy just going to amateur events, playing in those and having a bit of fun."

Bale was famously photographed with a flag containing the message 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' after an international game in 2019 and explained that he "played up" to the Spanish media's perception of him.

He said: "To be honest, I eventually decided just to start playing up to it.

"I clearly couldn't beat the press. They were just going to write whatever they wanted to. I mean, they would claim that I played golf pretty much every day.

"That just wasn't true. I reckon I probably played once every two or three weeks. I never played 48 hours before a game. I was much more concentrated on my football. But I've never hidden the fact that golf is important to me, particularly for my mental health.

"Ultimately, the media created a narrative and I suppose a certain image of me and, when they've got that platform to persuade people, there's not a whole lot you can do.

"So, yeah, I just decided to play along. If you can't beat them, join them, and all that."