AP Photo/Alan Diaz/Getty ImagesNiall Horan has a new job!
Don't worry, the 21-year-old Irish pop star isn't leaving One Direction too. It's just a side gig; He is set to caddie for friend and Northern Irish golf po Rory McIlroy, the No. 1 golfer in the world, at the Par 3 contest on Wednesday, a day before the 2015 Masters.
And don't worry, 1D fans, carrying his pal's golf clubs for a day won't cut into his work with the British-Irish boy band. One Direction, currently reeling from the recent departure of singer Zayn Malik, are on a scheduled hiatus from their On the Road Again tour. Horan and his three remaining band mates, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, are set to resume the concert series on June 5 in the U.K.
"He's been excited to come here," ESPN on Tuesday quoted McIlroy, 25, as saying. "He's never been to the Masters. I caught up with him in Australia at the end of last year and he was really excited, and I said, 'If you're available Wednesday afternoon and you want to carry the bag for nine holes, you're more than welcome.' "
"He's excited to be here and [I'm] looking forward to spending a bit of time with him out there tomorrow," he added.
Several months ago, Horan told The Irish Daily Mirror that he and McIlroy played golf together in Australia.
The two have been friends for years and have occasionally exchanged tweets.
@NiallOfficial no worries! Anytime! You boys killed it at the VMA's!! Good job! Have to get a game of golf sometime!
? Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) September 10, 2012@McIlroyRory good luck Rory man! Go and kill it! Make it 4 !
? Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 10, 2014The Par 3 contest is aimed at helping the competitors relax and spend time with family, friends and other pro-golfers before the Masters, the first major tournament of the year. Star golfer Tiger Woods, currently at No. 111 on the World Golf Ranking chart, will take part in the pre-tournament for the first time since 2004. His caddies are his kids, daughter Sam, 7, and son Charlie, 6.