Niall Horan’s golf handicap has slipped a bit after a jam‑packed start to 2026, but the internationally‑famous singer hopes his upcoming world tour will grant him more opportunities to get back on the links. Earlier this week Horan fronted the pro‑am at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a prestigious event that precedes the AIG Women’s Open and is broadcast live on Sky Sports.
He 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 10 handicap – a noticeable rise from the "around eight" he usually posts when he can tee up regularly.
The former One Direction front‑man said he was thrilled to experience one of the most historic venues on the Open circuit for the first time. "I’d never had the privilege of playing this place before and Royal Lytham & St Annes is obviously one of those bucket‑list places," he 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 Horan’s fourth studio album, Dinner Party, which dropped on June 5, has left little room for his hobby. The record’s promotion, a string of chart‑topping singles and a flurry of media appearances have all contributed to a reduced schedule on the green.
"I’ve probably played six rounds this year, which isn’t a lot for my handicap," Horan 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‑eighties – it’s a tough one for me to get into." He likened the occasional return to the course after a break to "picking up a set of sledgehammers" – heavy, awkward, and requiring a period of adjustment.
Yet he remains confident that a few weeks of downtime before rehearsals will allow him to regain his rhythm. "I’ll get back in the flow of it 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," he said.
The "Dinner Party Live On Tour" itinerary kicks off in Birmingham on September 22 and will sweep across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe throughout the autumn. The schedule then shifts to the Southern Hemisphere, with Australian dates slated for February, before heading to North America from March through May. Horan explained that the structure of a touring calendar actually offers him more flexibility for golf than a relentless promotional sprint.
"Funnily enough, when you’re on tour, I know what my days look like and it’s all planned out," he noted. "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." He intends to use the built‑in breaks to chase a few coveted courses.
"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. 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 a committed ambassador for golf’s growth. He founded the Modest!
Golf brand and has served as an R&A ambassador since 2021, frequently highlighting how the sport can benefit mental health, social connection and physical activity. His involvement underscores a broader trend of musicians and entertainers using their platforms to promote inclusive participation in golf.
The AIG Women’s Open itself has seen remarkable expansion. Since its last visit to Royal Lytham in 2018, the prize fund has more than tripled, culminating in a record‑breaking purse for this year’s championship. Horan praised the tournament’s evolution, saying, "It’s mad and I think in the last five or six years this event has just gotten huge.
It’s just 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 for the AIG Women’s Open across the UK and Ireland, offering an expanded "Featured Groups" segment that begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 1 p.m.
and live broadcasts of the final rounds over the weekend. Fans can follow the action via Sky Sports subscriptions or stream the coverage without a contract, ensuring the tournament reaches a wide audience.
In summary, while Horan’s busy music career has temporarily nudged his handicap upward, his upcoming tour schedule is set to provide a series of strategically placed rest days that align with some of the world’s most celebrated golf venues. Whether he’s swinging at Royal Lytham, tackling the Sandbelt courses in Australia, or fitting in a round on a U.S.
course between shows, the singer‑songwriter is determined to keep his love of golf alive and perhaps even lower that handicap before the next major tournament rolls around.