Gareth Bale playing alongside Rory McIlroy in Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday; John Terry grouped with Tommy Fleetwood, while Stuart Broad and James Anderson line up together; watch the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club from Thursday to Sunday, live on Sky Sports
Thursday 14 September 2023 07:08, UK
The groupings for Wednesday's BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am have been revealed - along with the famous faces' handicaps.
Gareth Bale has had even more time to spend on the golf course following his retirement in January and the former Wales, Real Madrid and Tottenham star will be playing off a handicap of 0.5 when he tees off alongside Rory McIlroy.
The pair will be joined by former Newcastle and Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who will be playing off a handicap of three.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Bale admitted it was "nerve-wracking" to play alongside McIlroy.
"Obviously, I was trying to impress him," said the former Tottenham and Real Madrid forward.
"The first tee is always nerve-wracking, I'm not used to hitting golf balls [in front of him] - I just hit the ball and looked forward."
Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry - also free to work on his golf game after leaving his role on the Leicester backroom staff at the end of last season - has been grouped with Tommy Fleetwood.
Terry had reduced his handicap to scratch a year ago but will now be playing off 7.5.
Teeing off alongside Tyrell Hatton will be Theo Walcott and Ben Foster. The ex-England internationals have both recently retired, meaning their respective handicaps of 10.2 and eight could be set to fall dramatically.
But it's not just famous former footballers who will be making an appearance at Wentworth, where Stuart Broad will be rekindling his partnership with James Anderson, alongside Justin Rose and Sir AP McCoy.
McIlroy, Rose, Fleetwood and Hatton will be joined by their eight Team Europe colleagues for the BMW PGA Championship - which will be live on Sky Sports - as they prepare for the Ryder Cup later this month.
Shane Lowry returns as the defending champion after winning the DP World Tour's flagship event with a one-shot victory last year.
The Irishman is looking to become the first player since Luke Donald, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, to win back-to-back BMW PGA Championship titles.
McIlroy holds a commanding 2,350-point advantage over Jon Rahm at the top of the DP World Tour season-long standings as he targets Race to Dubai victory for a fifth time, with both players aiming to go one better than their joint runner-up finish in 2022.
Sky Sports will have extended coverage from one of the highlights of the golfing calendar, with Featured Group action available from all four rounds and over 35 hours of live golf throughout the tournament.
Thursday September 14
8.30am to 12pm - Featured Groups
12pm to 6pm - Full live coverage
Friday September 15
8.30am to 12pm - Featured Groups
12pm to 6pm - Full live coverage
Saturday September 16
8.30am to 12pm - Featured Groups
12pm to 6pm - Full live coverage
Sunday September 17
8.30am to 12pm - Featured Groups
12pm to 5.30pm - Full live coverage
Watch the BMW PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday with Featured Groups from 8.30am ahead of full coverage from 12pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Live coverage from the opening day of the Ryder Cup begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.
