ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL: Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club
Q. So you’ve got European Tour, LET, LPGA, EDGA. How proud are you to have that and to be part of it?
NIALL HORAN: When you list off the names of governing bodies, we’re doing all right. It’s a nice little the way it sort of turned in the last 18 months from just a Challenge Tour event to now having all of those listed is pretty cool. It’s pretty — it’s an amazing feeling actually, yeah.
Q. You’re very much changing the dynamics. It’s all about inclusivity. You’re very dynamic in that world. What does it mean to be bringing more and more people into the game that you love?
NIALL HORAN: Yeah, I think it’s got obviously a perception of maybe not being the most inclusive sport, but that’s what we want to change, the perception, and having everyone here this week, men, women, disability, we’ve got everything here, and that’s what it’s all about really. If I can move the needle a couple of percent I’ll always try and do it.
Q. I’ve seen you at the Ryder Cups, and I’ve seen you at the Open with the men and they’re booming it. What have you learned from ladies when they play because they’ve got some fine skills, haven’t they. They play a little bit differently but they’ve got great skills.
NIALL HORAN: Oh, yeah. Some of the — I’ve noticed a lot smoother swings on the ladies tour, and obviously the putting is exceptional. They don’t need to bomb it like Bryson every time, but they’ve got the — drive for show and putt for dough, and the girls have got some amazing putters out there.
Q. There’s one little girl that we saw last night that we’re going to meet again. Talk about how special that is.
NIALL HORAN: Yeah, meeting Amy was brilliant. She was just a bundle of joy is the phrase you’d use. The fact that she’s — we’ve flown her over from America, and she seems to be having a great time — I just seen her poking her head out there somewhere a few minutes ago, and I think she’s going to make an appearance on the back nine maybe to play a few holes with us.
But yeah, she’s just superstar, and the whole — when she went viral the first time, it was outside of golf. She kind of broke the barrier of just a golf story. It was a real sporting moment. Hopefully we can make more memories for her this week.
Interview transcript by asapsports.com