Gareth Bale admits he had first-tee nerves on his debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

The 33-year-old Welshman, who announced his retirement from football last month, is a two-handicapper and his love of golf was well docoumented during his trophy-laden spell with LaLiga giants Real Madrid. 

But even he felt the pressure as he made his first appearance at the PGA Tour event, starting at the Spyglass Hill course. 

Bale, who also starred for Tottenham, said: "I think every amateur will tell you that. 

"Even if we are used to playing in front of 80,000 or more on live TV it's a completely different sport. 

"It's good experience but luckily I hit one of my best shots down the first fairway."

Even better was to follow at the second, where Bale produced a great par save from the greenside cart path, bumping a chip up to three feet. 

He added: "I am more worried how I was there in the first place but I guess a lot of amateurs find themselves out of position. 

"It was a great shot, I was just trying to play 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 [playing partner Joseph Bramlett] was pretty much in for par so I was like, 'I'll pick it up'. But he made me putt it as he was like, 'It will be one of the greatest up and downs'."

Bale and Bramlett finished a combined seven-under-par 65.