Golfing sensation Rory McIlroy has stressed the importance of an academic grounding on a quick trip back to Northern Ireland.
On break from his hectic schedule on the US tour, the Ryder Cup hopeful officially opened the University of Ulster's £1.2m Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute (SESRI) laboratories, at the Jordanstown campus outside Belfast.
The 20-year-old prodigy, from Holywood, Co Down, said the university's model of combining sport with education is the way forward for producing world-class home-grown athletes.
"Looking back on it, I was very lucky that I was able to succeed so early that I didn't need to go down that path (university)," he said.
"Not everyone can do that so it's definitely a good thing to do - to do something academically and then try and spend time to improve your game, whatever that may be."
Praising the facility, McIlroy said there was no reason why budding pros should not stay in Ireland to learn their trade.
"Obviously the weather isn't the greatest for a few months of the year here, but we have some of the best golf courses in the world, and we have great indoor facilities so that even if you're not playing that much golf in the winter, you can still improve your game by working indoors, going into the gym, making yourself stronger and fitter for the new season," he said.
"It's definitely a great opportunity for golfers here that want to improve but stay at home and the University of Ulster is a place they can come and do it."
The funding for the project came from the Department for Employment and Learning's research capital investment fund, and has brought some of the most up-to-date sports analysis equipment to the University.
© Press Association