Honorary UU degree for McIlroy

US Open champion Rory McIlroy is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Ulster.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will also be honoured, with the degrees conferred duringsummer and winter graduationceremonies.

Ferguson is being recognised with a Doctor of Science degree for his services to football.

McIlroy is confident of passing his first big test of the new season and that’s finishing in front of former long-time World number one Tiger Woods.

It will be only the third occasion in his career McIlroy will compete alongside Woods with Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship organisers sending McIlroy, Woods and current world number one, Luke Donald out together for the first two days on the National course.

“There are a lot of guys looking to get off to a fast start this year and I am one of them in what has to be one of the strongest fields we will see on the European Tour this year,” said McIlroy.

“It definitely will get the juices flowing and having grown upwatching Tiger for the last 15 years or so, he is still the face of golf. Tiger set the benchmark for a lot of guys and I don’t think anyone would argue he is still the main attraction in golf.”