Niall Horan’s golf handicap has slipped a bit after a hectic start to 2026, but the internationally‑renowned singer hopes his upcoming world tour will grant him more opportunities to hit the links. Earlier this week, Horan was the headline act for the pro‑am at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the prestigious venue that hosts the AIG Women’s Open. The event was broadcast live on Sky Sports, and Horan shared the fairways with Solheim Cup standout Maja Stark, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon and social‑media personality Georgia Ball. A passionate golfer, Horan entered the pro‑am playing off a ten‑handicap, a rise from the "around eight" he usually posts when he can tee up more regularly.
He expressed genuine excitement at the chance to play one of the most storied courses on the Open circuit. "I’d never had the privilege of playing this place before and Royal Lytham & St Annes is obviously one of those bucket‑list venues," Horan told Sky Sports exclusively. "I loved it. To come here and play it in tournament condition, ahead of the AIG Women’s Open, was just an incredible experience.
It’s a really tough test that is going to make for a good tournament. I played alright, considering the lack of golf in my life at the moment." The timing of the event coincided with the release of Horan’s fourth studio album, Dinner Party, which dropped on June 5. The album’s launch, promotional duties and the final stages of his latest No.
1 hit left little room for regular rounds of golf. "I’ve probably played six rounds this year, which isn’t a lot for my handicap," he admitted. "The lack of golf means I’ve lost a couple of shots. I’ve been busy this year, so I haven’t played as much as I usually do.
I can either shoot six or seven over, or I can shoot mid‑eights – it’s a tough one for me to get into." Horan likened his recent return to the course to picking up a set of sledgehammers after a break: "Sometimes it feels like I’m picking up a set of sledgehammers after a while out of it, but I’ll get back in the flow over the next few weeks. I’ve got some time off now before I get into rehearsals for the tour, so I might play a bit of golf." The "Dinner Party Live On Tour" schedule kicks off in Birmingham on September 22 and will sweep across the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe throughout the autumn. The itinerary then shifts to Australia in February, before moving on to a North‑American leg from March through May.
When asked how his touring calendar might affect his golf, Horan smiled: "Funnily enough, when you’re on tour I know what my days look like and everything is planned out. I can actually get a little bit more golf in than I would when I’m in the middle of a promotional run or something like that. I’ll try and get ahead now that I know what the schedule looks like and see if I can tick off a few courses on the way around." He highlighted his enthusiasm for the Australian sandbelt courses: "I’m excited to get back down to Australia, try and get a couple more on the Sandbelt down there. I played Royal Melbourne the last time, so Kingston Heath or something would be lovely down there.
Then in the States, I’ll have to have a proper think. On the tour, the days off are based on where there’s good golf – it’s the truth!" Beyond his personal love of the game, Horan is also the founder of Modest! Golf and has served as an R&A ambassador since 2021.
He frequently champions the sport’s benefits and works to grow participation at all levels, using his platform to encourage newcomers and highlight the inclusive nature of golf. The AIG Women’s Open itself has undergone a dramatic transformation since its last appearance at Royal Lytham in 2018.
Prize money has more than tripled, creating a record‑setting purse for this year’s edition. Horan praised the tournament’s expansion, noting, "It’s mad and I think in the last five or six years this event has just gotten huge. It’s massive and rightly so, because the quality of golf has never been better in the women’s game, in my opinion.
We’ve got the best in the world here this week at a great test of golf, but it’s what they deserve. The quality of golf has translated to a huge event with many massive sponsors and the girls are getting the reward." Sky Sports remains the exclusive broadcaster of the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland, offering a new "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage at 1 p.m.
The weekend schedule includes live broadcasts of rounds three and four starting at midday, delivering six additional hours of live action compared with previous years. Fans eager to follow the tournament can watch the entire week live on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage through the Sky Sports platform without a long‑term contract.
As Horan balances his musical commitments with his passion for golf, he remains optimistic that his tour will provide the structure he needs to return to the fairways, especially when the itinerary lands him near world‑class courses. His message to fellow golfers is simple: plan ahead, seize the chance to play on great courses, and enjoy the game wherever your career takes you.