Staff WriterThe BMW PGA Pro-Am is about to get a hefty dose of star power — and a thumping left foot — as footballing icon Gareth Bale returns to Wentworth Club for one of golf’s most glamorous warm-ups on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Yes, that Gareth Bale. The Welsh wizard with five Champions League medals, 111 international caps, and a swing that’s almost as smooth as his free kicks.
He’ll join a glittering field of sporting royalty and celebrity charmers for the traditional curtain-raiser to the BMW PGA Championship, the third Rolex Series event of the year — and easily one of the most electric dates on the British golfing calendar.
Already on the tee sheet alongside Bale are two-time tennis Grand Slam champ Sir Andy Murray, England cricket captain and all-around hero Ben Stokes, Chelsea legend John Terry, and McLaren Racing’s dynamic duo of Lando Norris and CEO Zak Brown. If Wentworth had any more stars, it would need a runway instead of a fairway.
“We are delighted to welcome Gareth back to Wentworth Club for what has become one of the highlights of the week,” said Championship Director Darrell O’Hora.
“Gareth has become a familiar face at our Pro-Ams over the last few years and we are thrilled to welcome someone of his stature each time he tees it up.”
For Bale, it’s more than a celebrity cameo. The man’s love of golf is legendary — so legendary, in fact, it once rivalled his day job.
From his early stardom at Tottenham Hotspur to that blockbuster move to Real Madrid, Bale amassed a trophy cabinet groaning with silver: four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, three La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, and three Spanish Super Cups. And let’s not forget Euro 2016, when he dragged Wales to the semi-finals with three goals and an entire nation behind him.
Now at 35, he’s swapped boots for spikes — but the competitive fire clearly hasn’t dimmed.
The BMW PGA Pro-Am has become a must-see spectacle, not just for the celebrity gossip and swing analyses, but because it’s the unofficial prelude to a loaded championship field.
Defending champ Billy Horschel will be joined by heavyweights like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, and the rising Nordic star Ludvig Åberg, who’s already got two PGA TOUR wins under his belt and barely a scuff on his shoes.
The event’s proximity to London makes it a tempting day out — or better yet, a weekend pilgrimage. For those heading to Wentworth, BMW Group owners can enjoy on-site parking perks, and all fans can use the free shuttle service from Virginia Water Station or hop on Park & Ride options from Sunningdale (Broomhall Farm) and Ascot (Royal Ascot Racecourse). There’s a modest fee — £10 per day or £30 for a season pass — but pay up front unless you fancy forking out £15 on the day.
And you’d better be quick if you want in. General admission for Saturday is already sold out. Tickets for Wednesday (when the BMW PGA Pro-Am takes place), Friday and Sunday are still available, but dwindling fast.
Thursday grandstand passes are the last ones standing, and only Wednesday and Thursday offer Ticket+ options. Premium experiences for the weekend are, as you’d expect, in high demand.
So whether you’re chasing autographs or analysing handicaps, the BMW PGA Pro-Am promises a proper day out — where the swings are smooth, the laughs are loud, and the stardust is thick in the Surrey air.
