Pop star Niall Horan hails Northern Ireland Open's new sixes shootout format

Pop star Niall Horan says his golf management company's decision to again back the Northern Ireland Open was a "no brainer" after the announcement of a new final-day format.

The top 24 players after Saturday's third round will be involved in a series of six-hole stroke play matches.

The innovation in the Galgorm Castle event is a tweaking of the format used at the inaugural World Super 6 European Tour event in Australia in February.