(Rome) The Serbian Novak Djokovic, returned to the top of the ATP ranking after his coronation at the United States Open, won an event reserved for personalities on the sidelines of the Ryder Cup golf, Wednesday near Rome.
Djokovic teamed up with former Welsh football international Gareth Bale, under the supervision of Scot Colin Montgomerie, former world number 2 golfer.
“Playing on this course and in this setting, it was really a great honor, thank you to the Ryder Cup for making me experience something unique in my life,” declared “Djoko”, winner of his 24th Grand Slam title, equaling Australian Margaret Court’s all-time major title record.
Bale, often mocked during his career, notably during his years at Real Madrid (2013-2022) for the time he spent on the golf greens, for his part compared playing golf to “taking a free kick or a penalty”.
Other participants in the seven-hole tournament at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, where the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup will take place from Friday to Sunday, included Spanish Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, 2004 Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko, actress Kathryn Newton and Victor Cruz, winner of the Super Bowl in February 2012 with the New England Patriots.