One Direction's Niall, Bill Murray Among Ryder Cup Celebs

CHASKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Celebrities took over the course at Hazeltine National Tuesday afternoon for a 9-hole scramble. Ryder Cup fans were treated to the Celebrity Match between Team USA and Team Europe. Notable Americans Bill Murray and Huey Lewis played, along with Hall of Fame tennis player Martina Navratilova and Niall Horan from One Direction for the Europeans, to name a few.

Crowds cheered as avid golfer and actor Kurt Russell teed off first for USA.

Those that followed only perked up the play.

"I heard there was like an open bar, the whole course was an open bar so if that's true the onus will be on them to be sociable," actor Bill Murray said.

While the celebrities embraced the engaged crowd, a few were apprehensive about playing in front of so many spectators.

"Kind of nerve-racking," surfer Kelly Slater said.

"I've never played with people around the course before this is scary as hell when you're teeing off you think my God I'm going to hit somebody," director, producer, and dance competition judge Nigel Lythgoe said.

The energy was unwavering and fans soaked it all in.

"It's kind of amazing how up close and personal they get with everybody and they're really enjoying the moment so it's really cool to see them outside of their realm," fan Terry McParklin of Eden Prairie said.

"I've played in a couple ProAms before, but never ever seen anything like this in my life. It's absolutely crazy, the crowds are huge, really supportive which is a shock being an away team," One Direction member Niall Horan said.

That may be especially true for Horan because throws of young girls screamed his name all along the course, including Emily Molgren of Shakopee.

"I really wanted to see Niall," Molgren said.

"She's hoping for a kiss on the cheek, I can tell you that," teased her older brother.

WCCO helped the 10-year-old meet her crush. Horan made a special stop to shake her hand.

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps knows what it means to represent your country.

"There's nothing like being part of the Ryder Cup for me I've been able to represent Team USA and when you come out here as a team it's a great environment," Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps said.