Niall Horan takes to the Dubai fairways with Instagram star Paige Spiranac and Rory McIlroy

The One Direction member is handy with the clubs as well as a microphone

Niall Horan, right, with Rory McIlroy, left, and Paige Spiranac on the eighth tee during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan with Paige Spiranac at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan poses for selfies with fans during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan with Paige Spiranac during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan plays a shot watched by Rory McIlroy during the pro-am as a preview for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan, right, with Rory McIlroy, left, and Paige Spiranac on the eighth tee during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan plays a shot watched by Rory McIlroy at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan, right, with Rory McIlroy, left, Paige Spiranac, centre right, and Saoirse Lambe of Ireland (centre left) who won a global competition to play with them during the pro-am before the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan with Paige Spiranac at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan with Saoirse Lambe of Ireland who won a global competition to play in the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan meets Saoirse Lambe of Ireland as Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on. David Cannon / Getty Images

Saoirse Lambe of Ireland, who won a global competition to play with Rory McIlroy and Niall Horan, is assited by Paige Spiranac during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Saoirse Lambe of Ireland, who won a global competition to play with Rory McIlroy and Niall Horan is assited by Paige Spiranac during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy plays a shot during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy plays a shot during the pro-am watched closely by Paige Spiranac (kneeling) at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan and Rory McIlroy during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Niall Horan poses for selfies with fans during the pro-am at Emirates Golf Club. David Cannon / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy with Paige Spiranac during the pro-am. David Cannon / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot watched by Niall Horan, Paige Spiranac and Saoirse Lambe during the pro-am. David Cannon / Getty Images

The fairways at Emirates Golf Club were graced by some big names on Wednesday - and that was discounting the actual golfers taking part in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this week.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy was joined for the pro-am by pop star Niall Horan - he of One Direction fame, plus American social media star Paige Spiranac, who made her her professional golfing debut at the 2015 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

Horan is a decent golfer, playing off a single figure handicap which has no doubt been aided by some tips from close friend McIlroy, who finished third in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship just a few days ago. Horan previously caddied for McIlroy at the Par-3 Contest at the Augusta National in 2015.

The singer posed for pictures with fans and was in good spirits under the Dubai sunshine.

Spiranac meanwhile will be the official starter for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic tournament which starts on Thursday - the first woman to take on the role.

The 24-year-old has 1.2 million followers on Instagram and she spoke to The National about cyber-bullying and helping to grow interest in golf. The full story can be read here.

Daily tickets for the four days of competition are priced at Dh175. A season pass, which provides access all week, is available for Dh500. Those aged 16 and under will be allowed free entry to the course if an adult who is holding a valid ticket for the day accompanies them.

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Read more:

Omega Dubai Desert Classic: All you need to know ahead of the 2018 tournament

American golfer Paige Spiranac: 'I was more naive when I first spoke out against cyber-bullying'

Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2018: Groups and tee times (UAE) - Round 1