4<\/p>\n The musician has been a big part of proceedings at Royal Lytham & St Annes this weekCredit: Getty<\/p>\n What they do not see, however, is Horan\u2019s tireless effort to help grow the women\u2019s game.\u00a0<\/p>\n The former One Direction star is the founder of \u2018Modest! Golf\u2019 – a management agency which – among other things – works alongside the R&A to help elevate the AIG Women\u2019s Open<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ahead of this week\u2019s 50th anniversary at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Horan is trying to get just some of his 32.4 million Instagram followers into golf – and it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously with a lot of my fans being young ladies and a lot of my followers online, if I can get a small percentage of them [into golf], that’s my bit,\u201d he told talkSPORT.com.<\/p>\n READ MORE ON TALKSPORT<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s all I can ask is people to pick up clubs and give the game a go and that’s where I’m trying to help.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWith Modest! Golf we have five players playing in the field this week at the AIG Women’s Open and that’s dream come true stuff for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo start the company 10-11 years ago and to have be at Lytham & St Annes, one of the most famous courses in the world, with five players in the field.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s pretty special for me. It’s mind-blowing.\u201d<\/p>\n Horan added: \u201cPeople would say it to me on the street when I’ve been at ladies events like this, you’ll see people turn around and say that they started watching golf because of me or they picked up a club because of me.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not going to take full credit. I mean, they have to put their eyes on it and then like it for themselves subjectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Horan saw major champion Maja Stark up close on Tuesday in the AIG Women’s Open Pro-AmCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cBut for me to be able to have the outlet to put them in front of the game and then let the girls do the job is important to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a game for life. It’s a game I’ve been playing all my life and hopefully I can play forever.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople need to get their eyeballs on golf. It’s such a great sport and the talent in the ladies at the minute is just off the scale.<\/p>\n \u201cI played with Maja Stark yesterday, a major champion, and it was just\u2026 it’s mind-blowing how talented these girls are and they’re starting to get the rewards for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBig prize funds, big sponsors – because the quality of golf is there and people are starting to open their eyes to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Learned from the best?<\/p>\n Although Horan himself currently plays off a modest 10 handicap, he is talking from experience, having played alongside career grand slam winner<\/a> McIlroy.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n The singer shares a close relationship with McIlroyCredit: Getty<\/p>\n And Horan recalled another mesmerising experience playing alongside the back-to-back Masters champion<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old said: \u201cSome of the off-course moments that we’ve had, where I just see Rory as a pal and we’ll have dinner or a night out or something like that, or play around the golf and I just get to see him in his most relaxed way – those are probably the ones that I remember the most really.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI played golf with him a couple of years ago in Toronto and it was the first time I’d ever played with him.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him play some of the best golf I’ve ever seen because he was just a completely relaxed version of Rory.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe minute you have to give a scorecard to someone, I think it turns into a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Horan juggles his golf with worldwide tours as a popular artistCredit: Getty<\/p>\n And of course, while he may be one of the most influential, Horan is far from the only celebrity who is obsessed with golf.<\/p>\n But who is the best he has come across – away from the professionals?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGareth Bale is pretty impressive. He’s a proper quality player,\u201d Horan continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think he’s turned into a golfer now he’s in his retirement. There’s been some great ones. Who else is great?<\/p>\n \u201cJustin Timberlake is a great golfer, but I’d say Gareth Bale<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Niall](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/singer-songwriter-niall-horan-plays-1098059899.jpg\")
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