Gareth Bale braved the elements to finish his PGA tournament debut just weeks after retiring at 16 under par

GARETH BALE lived up to the hype surrounding his golf – three weeks after he quit football when he couldn’t do the same in the sport.

The Wales and Real Madrid legend, 33, finished an impressive par 16 under a PGA Tour debut that was hit by rain and fierce winds.

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The former Tottenham winger shot two 65s and then a 69 in the third and final round at Pebble Beach.

Highlights included a comeback from the bunker and a stunning shot from the cart path as he saved two pars on day one.

Bale’s overall score of 199 left him 11th in the amateur class as he blossomed alongside US pro Joseph Bramlett.

The pros are yet to play a fourth round on Monday after windy conditions wiped out Saturday’s golf game.

Bale and Bramlett’s minus-16 score was 10 behind NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was paired with Canadian Ben Silverman.

Ex-Dragons skipper Bale, who has 111 caps, had joked before the tournament how the praise from the pros fueled his game.

World No. 3 John Rahm said: “I told Gareth you can’t be that good at professional football and golf at the same time, it just doesn’t seem fair.”

Bale responded by saying: “The people who compliment me on my game are amazing.

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‘You put a little too much pressure on my shoulders!'”

“They are great to play with, interact with and see what they do. just watching him [Bramlett] hitting a ball is different.

“The power, the touch. He was incredible and he’s an even better guy, which is more important. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”

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