GOLFWEEK's Eamon Lynch profiled singer NIALL HORAN, who this week is attending "his fifth Masters" and is an "annual invitee to the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship." Horan is the "center of attention on kids’ day" at Augusta National, and the former ONE DIRECTION member's "almost 40 million Twitter followers, and over 20 million on Instagram, dwarf any golf stars." Horan's Modest! Golf agency has a "small stable that is making a mark." One of his clients, GUIDO MIGLIOZZI, won a European Tour event last month. Another, LEONA MAGUIRE, won a Symetra Tour event on Sunday. Horan: "We’re not going to single-handedly move the game, but I can play a small part and try to do my best" (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/8).
THE BIG PAYBACK: Former Adidas exec JIM GATTO has agreed to pay the Univ. of Kansas restitution from his role in the college hoops scandal. The exact amount KU will receive from Gatto is "unknown but appears to be roughly $200,000 based on court documents" filed yesterday. The total paid to KU, N.C. State and Louisville combined "will be $342,437.75" (KANSASCITY.com, 4/8).
NAMES: Lakers G LONZO BALL has selected CAA as his representation, “four days after announcing he and his former agent, HARRISON GAINES, had parted ways.” Ball must “wait 15 days before officially hiring a new agent” (LATIMES.com, 4/8)....Former Auburn football coach TOMMY TUBERVILLE on Saturday “announced he would seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate” in Alabama (MONTGOMERYADVERTISER.com, 4/6)....Islanders co-Owner JON LEDECKY and team staffers yesterday toured three high schools near Belmont Park, where they “gave out tickets to students who have overcome adversity” (NEWSDAY.com, 4/8)....JOE MONTANA was named the “honorary ambassador” for this year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (SFCHRONICLE.com, 4/8)....Former NBAer CHRIS BOSH and philanthropist WAYNE BOICH “raised $500,000 on Saturday at the After-School All-Stars poker tournament at Miami’s Lobster Bar Sea Grille” (NYPOST.com, 4/8)....Avalanche C NATHAN MACKINNON “guest starred in the third episode” of “TRAILER PARK BOYS: THE ANIMATED SERIES” on Netflix (DENVERPOST.com, 4/8).
