Tiger Woods handed early start at Pinehurst No 2; defending champion Wyndham Clark grouped with Brian Harman and Nick Dunlap; Watch the opening round of the US Open live on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf
Rory McIlroy has been grouped alongside world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele – the two players above him at the top of the world rankings – for the first two rounds of the 124th US Open.
McIlroy, who won the 2011 US Open and is searching for his first major victory since 2014, has been given a late-early draw as he tees off at 1.14pm local time (6.14pm BST) on Thursday at Pinehurst No 2.
The Northern Irishman plays alongside Schauffele, who claimed a maiden major title in the PGA Championship last month and has finished no worse than 14th in his previous seven US Opens, with pre-tournament favourite Scheffler completing the star-studded threeball for the first two days.
Scheffler claimed a one-shot success at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, his fifth PGA Tour victory in his last eight starts, with the 27-year-old now looking to add to his two wins at The Masters and claim a third major title in as many years.
Speaking about the draw, McIlroy said: “It’s always exciting to be a part of a marquee group like that. I think at this point, Scottie [Scheffler], Xander [Schauffele] and myself are all experienced enough not to get caught up in it, just to go about our business, try to shoot a couple good scores to put ourselves in position going into the weekend.”
Wyndham Clark also begins his title defence in the afternoon wave alongside Open champion Brian Harman and reigning US Amateur champion Nick Dunlap, while Tiger Woods is out in the morning wave with Will Zalatoris and 2022 winner Matt Fitzpatrick.
Three-time US Open champion Woods has been given a special exemption by the USGA to tee it up this week, having failed to qualify for the first time in his professional career, with the 48-year-old starting on the 10th tee at 7.29am local time (12.29pm BST).
Last week’s Memorial Tournament runner-up Collin Morikawa tees it up with fellow former major champions Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka – a five-time major champion, while 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau features alongside Viktor Hovland and Max Homa.
Two-time major champion Jon Rahm was due to partner former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and three-time major winner Jordan Spieth in the afternoon wave, but has now been replaced by Jackson Suber after having to withdraw due to injury.
Thursday’s key tee times (BST)
*denotes starting at 10th hole
*1229 Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tiger Woods
1240 Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka
*1251 Tony Finau, Ludvig Åberg, Dustin Johnson
1814 Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
1825 Brian Harman, Nick Dunlap, Wyndham Clark
*1825 Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa
1836 Hideki Matsuyama, Jackson Suber, Jordan Spieth
When is the US Open on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports continues to be the home of the US Open, with over 45 hours of live coverage of the four tournament days from June 13-16 and lots of extra tournament programming throughout the week.
“Live from the US Open” will bring eight hours of build-up, interviews, analysis and practice action on Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week, with coverage getting under way from 2pm each day, before round-the-clock coverage from each of the four tournament rounds.
Coverage from the first two rounds begins from 12.30pm on Thursday and Friday, with over 12 hours live from both days, with the action starting at 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on the final day.
Who will win the third men’s major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.