Rory McIlroy shifts from Masters to pop music

Rory McIlroy watches his approach shot on the second hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National on Sunday.

Staff Writer

April 13, 2015 9:23 AM PT

Now that the Masters is over, Rory McIlroy can look forward to his next big challenge -- a shot at pop stardom.

The world’s top-ranked golfer will get his chance Sept. 12, shortly after playing in the Deutsche Bank Championship.

On that night, McIlroy will take the stage at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., to sing with the boy band One Direction. He got the gig after inviting singer Niall Horan to caddie for him in a par-three contest before the Masters began.

“He is allowed to pick the song,” Horan told the Golf Channel over the weekend. “If he is able pick the song, then he is going to do it.”

It seems that McIlroy, who finished fourth at Augusta National, needs some practice for his musical debut.

Asked if he had heard McIlroy sing, Horan said: “No, but apparently he’s terrible.”

Twitter: @LATimesWharton

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David Wharton

David Wharton has filled an array of roles – covering the courts, entertainment, sports and the second Persian Gulf War – since starting as a Los Angeles Times intern in 1982. His work has been honored by organizations such as the Society for Features Journalism and Associated Press Sports Editors and has been anthologized in “Best American Sports Writing.” He has also been nominated for an Emmy and has written two books, including “Conquest,” an inside look at USC football during the Pete Carroll era.

Rory McIlroy shifts from Masters to pop music

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