Why golf needs people like One Direction star Niall Horan

Ian Walton/Getty ImagesAlex Perry at Wentworth

When the list of celebrities lining up to hack it round Wentworth's famous West Course in the BMW PGA Championship celebrity pro-am came out, it wasn't any of the sporting royalty that demanded attention.

Brian Lara, Teddy Sheringham, Nigel Mansell, Peter Schmeichel, Kevin Pietersen, Kenny Dalglish, Tim Henman, Mike Tindall, AP McCoy ... No, they've been seen plenty of times in this very event over the years.

The name that stood out was Niall Horan.

Golf fans were introduced to the young Irish singer, one member of X-Factor uber-stars One Direction, at last month's Masters, where he caddied for Rory McIlroy during Augusta's traditional Par-3…