Niall Horan’s golf handicap has slipped a bit after a jam-packed start to 2026, but the internationally‑famous singer hopes his forthcoming world tour will afford him more opportunities to return to the fairways. Earlier this week Horan was the headline act at 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 tee‑off with Solheim Cup standout Maja Stark, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon and social‑media influencer Georgia Ball, giving fans a rare glimpse of the pop star in a golfing context. The former One Direction frontman is a passionate golfer who entered the pro‑am with a handicap of ten, a figure that has risen from his usual "around eight" when he can play more regularly.
Horan expressed genuine excitement at the chance to test himself on 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," 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 the pro‑am coincided with the release of Horan’s fourth studio album, Dinner Party, which dropped on June 5. The album has already secured another No.
1 placement on the charts, and Horan has been busy promoting it, leaving 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‑eighties – it’s a tough one for me to get into." He likened his occasional return to the course to picking up a set of sledgehammers after a period of inactivity, but assured fans that he expects to regain his rhythm soon.
"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 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," Horan said. 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.
After the European leg, the itinerary moves to Australia in February, followed by a North American stretch from March through May. Horan highlighted how the structure of a touring schedule can actually create more golf opportunities than a hectic promotional sprint.
"Funnily enough, when you’re on tour, I know what my days look like and it’s all planned out," he explained. "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 is especially eager to revisit the Australian Sandbelt, noting that his last visit included a round at the legendary Royal Melbourne.
"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," Horan enthused. When asked about his approach to days off in the United States, he smiled and said, "On the tour, the days off are based on where there’s good golf – it’s the truth!" Beyond his own playing ambitions, Horan is deeply involved in the sport’s growth. He founded Modest!
Golf, a brand aimed at making the game more accessible, and has served as an R&A ambassador since 2021. In that role he frequently promotes the mental and physical benefits of golf and encourages participation at every level, from beginners to seasoned competitors. The AIG Women’s Open, which Horan helped spotlight during the pro‑am, has seen its prize fund more than triple since the tournament was last held at Royal Lytham in 2018.
This year’s edition boasts a record‑breaking purse, reflecting the rapid expansion and increasing professionalism of women’s golf. Horan praised the evolution, stating, "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 of the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland, offering expanded coverage that includes a new "Featured Groups" segment beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, followed by full live coverage from 1 p.m.
and additional live rounds over the weekend. Viewers can watch the tournament live on Sky Sports Golf or stream via the Sky Sports platform without a long‑term contract.
In summary, while Horan’s handicap has suffered from a lack of recent play, his upcoming tour schedule actually creates a framework for him to fit in more golf than a typical promotional cycle would allow. With a series of high‑profile courses on the itinerary—from the historic links of Royal Lytham to the sandy fairways of Australia and the storied courses of the United States—Horan plans to combine his passion for music and golf, ticking off bucket‑list venues while promoting the sport he loves. His dual role as a performer and ambassador underscores his commitment to growing the game, and his enthusiasm for the AIG Women’s Open highlights the broader momentum behind women’s golf today.