A murmur of excitement emerged from fans of Niall Horan on Wednesday afternoon in Dubai, just before the pop star teed off: “He’s going to play, he’s going to play!”
There were no screams or pandemonium, no microphones or guitars, just a select few of Horan’s dedicated supporters, who had gathered around to watch him golf.
Horan is best known for being a member of One Direction. Last year, he released his debut solo album Flicker. But this time, he was showing off his athletic abilities at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic ProAm (professional-amateur) event. The singer runs his own golf management company, after all.
Dressed in a striped polo shirt, cargo shorts and a pair of sunglasses, the 24-year-old Irishman was ready for a scorching 22 degrees of sun. He arrived at the first hole just after 12.30pm at Emirates Golf Club, accompanied by professional golfer friend Rory McIlroy. Both men seemed to be in good spirits as they introduced themselves to a small group huddled on the course; McIlroy was sure to shake every marshal’s hand and thank them for their help. Horan also greeted a competition winner, who had been flown in especially for the event.
McIlroy was first up to play, scanning over his yardage book before teeing off. Horan was up next, sporting a look of concentration while consulting with his caddy. His swing was met with cheers from spectators.
Horan will next participate in a clinic on January 26 to soak up tips from McIllroy and fellow golfer Paige Spiranac.
Though the singer is participating only in the tournament’s noncompetitive and ProAm events, McIlroy will compete starting tomorrow.
Aside from golf, Horan expressed interest in trying the Dubai Marina zip line during his visit.
“There’s a lot of stuff in Dubai that I would like to do, actually. I’m not too adventurous. I’d probably do a bungee before I’d skydive,” he told Gulf News tabloid! ahead of his trip.
Horan was last in Dubai in 2015 as part of One Direction, for their sole Middle East concert. The band went on hiatus in 2016. On his own, Horan has charted with singles such as Slow Hands and This Town. He’s set to get back on the road to tour his album Flicker in March.
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Don’t miss it
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic runs until January 28. General Admission tickets start at Dh175. Go to omegadubaidesertclassic.com.
