Big-hearted pop star Niall Horan has kept his promise to an “inspirational” superfan to play a “few holes of golf” together.
The former One Direction singer invited American Amy Bockerstette, who has Down Syndrome, to take the first shot at a tournament in Galgorm Castle, Co Antrim this week.
Amy from Arizona went viral in 2019 in a video which saw her play with American professional golfer Gary Woodland.
At the time Mullingar man Niall, a keen golfer, said the video was “beautiful”.
The pair finally met this week after Horan surprised Amy on a recent video call and invited her and her parents to the ISPS Handa World Invitational in the North, which ends tomorrow.
Niall, 27, said: “Meeting Amy was brilliant. She was just a bundle of joy is the phrase you’d use.
“We’ve flown her over from America and she seems to be having a great time.
“She’s just a 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.”
Amy, 22, is believed to be the first person with Down syndrome to earn an athletic scholarship to attend college.
Amy said: “I loved hitting my first tee shot at the opening.
“Also, Niall was proud of me. It was fun.”
On their video call Horan said Amy was an “inspiration to everyone”.
