Real Madrid star Gareth Bale hailed 14-time major champion Tiger Woods as the greatest golfer of all-time.
American veteran Woods opened his Players Championship campaign with an even par at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday six shots adrift of a crammed leaderboard which includes world number one Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Alex Noren, Chesson Hadley, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Cantlay.
Woods is back challenging on the PGA Tour after a fourth back surgery, recording top-five finishes at both the Valspar Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, while he was 32nd at the Masters.
Wales international Bale, a self-professed golf fanatic, particularly praised Woods return to the sport.
Shot 1: Longest drive of the day.
Shot 2: Over the
Shot 3: Right in the heart!
A classic eagle.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)
He s obviously the best player that s ever played the game, Bale said, speaking ahead of The Players Championship.
He s taken the game to new levels and the type of golf he played and is starting to play now is amazing. It s exciting to see him back and we all hope he wins another tournament and another major.
If I had one round with a PGA Tour golfer, it would probably be Tiger Woods. He s Tiger Woods, he s the biggest name in golf and what he s achieved, for me he s the best golfer to ever play the game. Some of the stuff I used to watch and what he s doing again now is incredible.
We all hope he wins another tournament and plenty more majors. He d be amazing to play with.
Woods is a two-time winner of The Players Championship, having won the tournament in 2013 and 2001.
It d be amazing to see Tiger lift the trophy again, said Bale, who is preparing for the Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev on May 26. He has a big chance, but for me, I would obviously like to see Dustin Johnson win, being my favourite player.
. just keeps making birdies.
He s -6 thru 11 and leads by 1.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)
On Johnson, Bale added: I really love watching Dustin Johnson play. I ve admired him for quite a while now and I just enjoy the way he plays golf. He attacks the golf course, he s very powerful off the tee.
