Niall Horan exclusive: New handicap, AIG Women’s Open pro-am return and golf plans for the upcoming Dinner Party tour | Golf News

Niall Horan’s handicap has been hit hard after a busy start to 2026, but the superstar hopes his upcoming world tour will give him more time to get back on the golf course.

Horan had a pro-am title on Tuesday at Royal Lytham and St Annes ahead of the AIG Women’s Open, live on Sky Sportswhere he played with Solheim Cup star Maja Stark, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon and social media star Georgia Ball.

The former One Direction star is a keen golfer who played a 10-under at the event, as he used to be “about an eight” when he played regularly, with Horan relishing the opportunity to combine it on one of the best courses on the Open list.

“I’ve never had the privilege of playing this place before and Royal Lytham and St Annes is obviously one of those bucket list places,” Horan said exclusively. he told Sky Sports. “I loved it.

“Coming here to play in tournament form, before the AIG Women’s Open, was an amazing experience. It’s a really tough test that will make for a good tournament.

“I played well, considering the lack of golf in my life right now.”

Horan released his fourth studio album – Dinner Party – on June 5, with the task of building on his recent No 1 success and promoting its release leaving few opportunities for golf.

“I’ve probably played six rounds this year, which is not a lot for my handicap,” explained Horan. “The lack of golf meant I lost a few shots.

“I’ve been busy this year, so I haven’t played as much as I used to. I can shoot six or seven overs, or I can shoot in the mid-80s – it’s hard for me to get in.

“Sometimes it feels like I’m picking up a set of slingshots after a while out of it, but I’ll get back into the flow in the next couple of weeks. I’ve got some time off now before I get into the tour trials, to play a little bit of golf.”

Horan’s “Dinner Party Live On Tour” concerts kick off in Birmingham on September 22 and cover the UK, Ireland and continental Europe in the autumn, with a trip to Australia in February before shows across North America from March to May.

“The funny thing is, when you’re on tour, I know what my days look like and it’s all planned out,” Horan added. “I actually get in a lot more golf than I would if I was on a promotional run or something like that.

“I’ll try to keep going, now that I know what the schedule looks like, and see if I can pick up a few lessons along the way.

“I’m excited to be back down in Australia, try to get a couple more fans in the Sandbelt down there. I played Royal Melbourne last time, so Kingston Heath or something would be lovely down there.

“Then in the States, I will have to think carefully. On tour, rest days are based on good golf – it’s true!”

Horan is the founder of Modest! Golf has also been an ambassador for the R&A since 2021, with the singer-songwriter a passionate supporter of growing the game at all levels and constantly promoting the benefits golf has to offer.

The AIG Women’s Open has seen its prize money more than triple since the tournament was last held at Royal Lytham in 2018, with a record prize purse available for this year’s edition, Horan is delighted to see the event continue to grow.

“It’s crazy and I think five or six years ago, this event [AIG Women’s Open] it just got bigger,” Horan said. “It’s bigger and rightly so, because the quality of golf has never been better in the women’s game, in my opinion.

“We got the best in the world this week in a good test of golf, but that’s what they deserve. The quality of the golf has turned it into a big event with a lot of sponsors and the girls get a prize.”

When is the AIG Women’s Open on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the AIG Women’s Open in the UK and Ireland, available for the first time and six hours of live action on Sky Sports than ever before.

Coverage of the drawn teams begins at 9am on Thursday and Friday on Sky Sports Golf, before the full draw at 1pm, with the third and fourth rounds being broadcast live and kicking off at noon on the weekend.

Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch all week live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more without a contract.