Bill Murray, Piers Morgan and Gareth Bale are among the celeb stars hitting the links at St. Andrews – as they take part in Pro-Am ahead of Alfred Dunhill Championship

Bill Murray, Piers Morgan and Gareth Bale linked up with other famous stars at St Andrews as part of the Pro-Am tournament ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Bale, who retired from professional football last year, shot a remarkable round of 1-under 71 at Carnoustie, considered the toughest course on the three-track rotation, in this week’s $5 million prize fund tournament.

“We had a great day,” he said Air sports after the round. “To be honest we couldn’t have asked for better weather for the first six or seven holes, then the wind and rain came and it was a great test. It was my first time here and it is an incredible golf course.

“I shot 1-under today. The tees were a little further forward so obviously I could take advantage of my distance and everything so it was good, I can’t complain.”

Given that the former Real Madrid and Wales winger has a handicap of 0.5, it was no surprise that he even outperformed his own team partner and 2020 Wales Open champion Romain Langasque, who played a 2-over scored 74.

Actor and comedian Bill Murray made his ninth appearance at the Pro-Am in Scotland this week

Piers Morgan was also at the Pro-Am on Thursday after practicing with Lord Ian Botham

Together, Langasque and Bale teamed up for an opening round of 6 under par, but finished the day tied for 74th.

Morgan – a keen Arsenal fan – was also in Bale’s group, with the former Spurs man saying: ‘I need more than earplugs around Piers, it didn’t work unfortunately.’

Morgan also played a practice round with cricket legend Lord Ian Botham on Thursday ahead of the start of the Pro-Am.

He, along with Bale and Murray, will have the opportunity to play on easier courses on Friday and Saturday, starting at Kingsbarns before taking to the Old Course at St Andrews.

Morgan – an Arsenal fan – spent all of Thursday making fun of Bale over his links with Spurs

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones also appeared at the Alfred Dunhill Links on Thursday

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wore a beanie while out in full swing on Thursday

Ronan Keating – the ex-lead singer of the band Boyzone – plays his second shot on the 16th hole

The top twenty ranked teams will qualify for the final round at St Andrews on Sunday.

Bale was part of the victorious Team Monty at Marco Simone’s Celebrity Ryder Cup before the Ryder Cup proper got underway last week.

He also played with Rory McIlroy in the BMW PGA Pro-Am at Wentworth.

Murray, who plays a lot of golf at Pebble Beach, where he won the AT&T Pro-Am with professional DA Points, made his ninth appearance this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones and singer Ronan Keating are also in Scotland for the Pro-Am tournament.