Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:54, UK
One Direction star Niall Horan will play alongside Rory McIlroy in the celebrity pro-am on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth later this month.
Avid golfer Horan, an honorary life member of Mullingar Golf Club in his native Ireland, will tee up in a star-studded group which also includes former England and Manchester United aces Phil Neville and Paul Scholes.
The quartet will start at 8am on Wednesday, May 20 and are certain to attract huge galleries, and Horan is relishing the chance to play alongside McIlroy having caddied for the world No 1 during the par-three contest ahead of the Masters last month.
“I can’t wait to play with Rory, Phil and Paul," said Horan. "It’s going to be a great event. I know how prestigious the BMW PGA Championship is as the European Tour’s flagship event, so the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am with my mate Rory and two legends of football is going to be amazing – what a team!
“That said, I’ve heard there are pretty big crowds there on the day, I’m used to those but not when I’m on a golf course. I’ll probably be more nervous at Wentworth than I was performing in front of thousands with 1D, so I’m hoping Rory will give me a few tips on calming the nerves.
"I love golf, it’s a fantastic sport for all ages and I would urge young people to get out there and give it a go.”
McIlroy, who snatched the title after a superb final round last year, said: “Niall and I had good fun together in the Par 3 contest at the Masters and I’m looking forward to seeing him again at Wentworth, without the boiler suit. It should be a great fourball with Phil and Paul playing too, and it should appeal to a wide range of fans.
Enjoyable
“The Celebrity Pro-Am is always one of the most enjoyable days of the year and I’m sure the guys will all have a great time.”
Neville said: “I played in the BMW Celebrity Pro-Am last year and it’s a great day. We’re going to have a lot of fun with Paul, Rory and Niall – hopefully we can play some pretty decent golf too. I’ve heard there’s a great line-up of celebrities, sportsmen and leading golfers this year, so the pressure will be on!”
Championship director Jamie Birkmyre believes having Horan playing on the West Course will undoubtably raise the profile of the tournament and help attract a younger generation of golf fans.
He said: “We are delighted that Niall will be part of the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am for the first time. Playing alongside our defending champion, Rory McIlroy, Niall will help showcase the tournament and game to a wider audience, which is great for growing the game of golf.
“The Celebrity Pro-Am is a fantastic family day out as under-16s can come for free if accompanied by a paying adult, with a maximum of four kids per adult.
"Niall, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville are among a host of celebrities we have lined up for the Pro-Am, and we will announce some more big names over the next couple of weeks.”
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