Tiger Woods will not have to wait too long to make his competitive return to Hoylake in the 143rd British Open Championship, which gets under way on Thursday.

Woods, who claimed his third Claret Jug the last time the event was staged at Hoylake in 2006, will start his first round at 9:04am alongside Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

After missing the first two Majors of the year following back surgery, Woods returned to action in the Quicken Loans National at the end of June, although he missed the halfway cut at Congressional.

The 14-time Major winner has not played competitively since, but completed 12 holes in practice on Saturday and a full round on Sunday and was in buoyant mood.

“I can do whatever I want. I’m at that point now,” the 38-year-old said of his recovery from surgery on March 31st. “We didn’t think we’d get to that point until this tournament or the week after.

“Before I had the procedure, I was at the point I couldn’t do anything. This is how I used to feel. I had been playing with (the back injury) for a while and I had my good weeks and bad weeks. Now they are all good.”

Double British Open champion Pádraig Harrington is in the group after Woods at 9:15am along with 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and Korea’s KJ Choi, with former world number one Rory McIlroy next out with American Jordan Spieth and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama at 9:26am.

Graeme McDowell tees off at 9:48am on Thursday alongside former champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and America’s Matt Kuchar.

Darren Clarke is the first of the Irish in action, the former champion going out with American Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson and Jim Furyk at 8:26am on the opening morning.

Michael Hoey tees it up alongside South Africa’s George Coetzee and America’s Charley Hoffman.

Irish amateur Paul Dunne is amongst the late starters in the first round and the Greystones player will have the company of Spain’s Rafael Cabrero-Bello and American Mark Wiebe when he starts at 3:11pm.

The final Irish golfer to tee it up is the in-form Shane Lowry, who goes off at 3:22pm with England’s Oliver Fisher and American Cheeson Hadley.

Phil Mickelson gets the defence of his title under way at 2:05pm in the company of 2012 winner Ernie Els and current Masters champion Bubba Watson, with Scottish Open winner Justin Rose out two groups later with world number one Adam Scott and former US PGA champion Jason Dufner.

US Open champion Martin Kaymer begins his bid for a second Major of the year at 1:38pm alongside Australian Jason Day and former Masters champion Zach Johnson.

England’s David Howell has the honour of hitting the opening tee shot at 6:25am, with 2001 champion David Duval and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson making up the first group.

The final group does not tee off until almost 10 hours later, England’s Christopher Rodgers, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Korea’s An Byeong-hun getting their challenge under way at 4:06pm.

TEE-TIMES FOR IRISH PLAYERS

THURSDAY

8:26am Darren Clarke, Jim Furyk (USA), Tom Watson (USA)
9:15am Pádraig Harrington, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), KJ Choi (S Korea)
9:26am Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth (USA), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
9:37am Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa)
12:21pm Michael Hoey, George Coetzee (S Africa), Charley Hoffman (USA)
3:11pm Paul Dunne (am), Rafael Cabrero-Bello (Spain), Mark Wiebe (USA)
3:22pm Shane Lowry, Oliver Fisher (England), Cheeson Hadley (USA)

FRIDAY

7:20am Michael Hoey, George Coetzee (S Africa), Charley Hoffman (USA)
10:10am Paul Dunne (am), Rafael Cabrero-Bello (Spain), Mark Wiebe (USA)
10:21am Shane Lowry, Oliver Fisher (England), Cheeson Hadley (USA)
1:27pm Darren Clarke, Jim Furyk (USA), Tom Watson (USA).
2:16pm Pádraig Harrington, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), KJ Choi (S Korea)
2:27pm Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth (USA), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
2:49pm Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa)

THURSDAY’S FIRST-ROUND FULL DRAW

(x) denotes amateurs

6:25 David Duval (USA), David Howell (Eng), Robert Karlsson (Swe)
6:36 Dawie Van Der Walt (Rsa), Cameron Tringale (USA), Masanori Kobayashi (Jpn)
6:47 Chris Wood (Eng), Matthew Jones (Aus), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
6:58 Hyung-sung Kim (Kor), Erik Compton (USA), Marc Leishman (Aus)
7:09 Koumei Oda (Jpn), Ben Martin (USA), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)
7:20 Brooks Koepka (USA), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha), Edoardo Molinari (Ita)
7:31 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Branden Grace (Rsa), (x) Ashley Chesters (Eng)
7:42 Justin Leonard (USA), Ben Curtis (USA), Paul Lawrie (Sco)
7:53 Ryan Moore (USA), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)
8:04 Matteo Manassero (Ita), (x) Bradley Neil (Sco), Mikko Ilonen (Fin)
8:15 Thomas Bjorn (Den), Patrick Reed (USA), Stewart Cink (USA)
8:26 Tom Watson (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Darren Clarke (N Irl)
8:37 Luke Donald (Eng), Rickie Fowler (USA), Sergio Garcia (Esp)
8:53 Paul Casey (Eng), Harris English (USA), Matthew Every (USA)
9:04 Tiger Woods (USA), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
9:15 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Pádraig Harrington (Irl), K J Choi (Kor)
9:26 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rory McIlroy (N Irl), Jordan Spieth (USA)
9:37 Ian Poulter (Eng), Dustin Johnson (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA)
9:48 Matt Kuchar (USA), Graeme McDowell (N Irl), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa)
9:59 Hunter Mahan (USA), Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Victor Dubuisson (Fra)
10:10 Nick Faldo (Eng), Todd Hamilton (USA), Mark Calcavecchia (USA)
10:21 Brett Rumford (Aus), Ryan Palmer (USA), Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn)
10:32 John Singleton (Eng), Peter Uihlein (USA), Marc Warren (Sco)
10:43 Paul Mckechnie (Sco), Kristoffer Broberg (Swe), Juvic Pagunsan (Phi)
10:54 Rhein Gibson (Aus), Brian Harman (USA), Hyung-tae Kim (Jpn)
11:05 Oscar Floren (Swe), Chris Hanson (Eng), Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jpn)
11:26 Matthew Southgate (Eng), James Mcleary (Sco), Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn)
11:37 Roberto Castro, Victor Riu (Fra), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
11:48 Dong-kyu Jang (Kor), Nick Watney (USA), Shawn Stefani (USA)
11:59 Y.E Yang (S Kor), D.A. Points (USA), Brendan Steele (USA)
12:10 Scott Stallings (USA), Pablo Larrazabal (Esp), Bryden Macpherson (Aus)
12:21 Charley Hoffman (USA), George Coetzee (Rsa), Michael Hoey (N Irl)
12:32 Brendon De Jonge (Zim), Kevin Streelman (USA), Brendon Todd (USA)
12:43 Gary Woodland (USA), Sandy Lyle (Sco), Kevin Stadler (USA)
12:54 Graham Delaet (Can), Brandt Snedeker (USA), (x) Cheng-tsung Pan (Chn)
13:05 Boo Weekley (USA), Danny Willett (Eng), Ashun Wu (Chn)
13:16 J.B. Holmes (USA), Jonas Blixt (Swe), Chris Kirk (USA)
13:21 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp), Bill Haas (USA), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)
13:38 Jason Day (Aus), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Zach Johnson (USA)
13:54 Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Webb Simpson (USA), Yusaku Miyazato (Jpn)
14:05 Phil Mickelson (USA), Ernie Els (Rsa), Bubba Watson (USA)
14:16 Russell Henley (USA), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Esp), Billy Horschel (USA)
14:27 Adam Scott (Aus), Justin Rose (Eng), Jason Dufner (USA)
14:38 Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn), Lee Westwood (Eng), Keegan Bradley (USA)
14:49 Kevin Na (USA), Joost Luiten (Ned), John Senden (Aus)
15:00 John Daly (USA), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Ross Fisher (Eng)
15:11 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Esp), Mark Wiebe (USA), (x) Paul Dunne (Irl)
15:22 Oliver Fisher (Eng), Chesson Hadley (USA), Shane Lowry (Irl)
15:33 Richard Sterne (Rsa), George McNeill (USA), Chris Stroud (USA)
15:44 Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Jin Jeong (Kor), Matthew Baldwin (Eng)
15:55 Justin Walters (Rsa), Rhys Enoch (Wal), Billy Hurley III (USA)
16:06 Chris Rodgers (Eng), Scott Jamieson (Sco), Byeong-Hun An (Kor)

SECOND ROUND

06:25 Matthew Southgate (Eng), James Mcleary (Sco), Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn)
06:36  Roberto Castro, Victor Riu (Fra), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
06:47 Dong-kyu Jang (Kor), Nick Watney (USA), Shawn Stefani (USA)
06:58 Y.E Yang (S Kor), D.A. Points (USA), Brendan Steele (USA)
07:09 Scott Stallings (USA), Pablo Larrazabal (Esp), Bryden Macpherson (Aus)
07:20 Charley Hoffman (USA), George Coetzee (Rsa), Michael Hoey (N Irl)
07:31 Brendon De Jonge (Zim), Kevin Streelman (USA), Brendon Todd (USA)
07:42 Gary Woodland (USA), Sandy Lyle (Sco), Kevin Stadler (USA)
07:53 Graham Delaet (Can), Brandt Snedeker (USA), (x) Cheng-tsung Pan (Chn)
08:04 Boo Weekley (USA), Danny Willett (Eng), Ashun Wu (Chn)
08:15 J.B. Holmes (USA), Jonas Blixt (Swe), Chris Kirk (USA)
08:26 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp), Bill Haas (USA), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)
08:37 Jason Day (Aus), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Zach Johnson (USA)
08:53 Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Webb Simpson (USA), Yusaku Miyazato (Jpn)
09:04 Phil Mickelson (USA), Ernie Els (Rsa), Bubba Watson (USA)
09:15 Russell Henley (USA), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Esp), Billy Horschel (USA)
09:26 Adam Scott (Aus), Justin Rose (Eng), Jason Dufner (USA)
09:37  Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn), Lee Westwood (Eng), Keegan Bradley (USA)
09:48  Kevin Na (USA), Joost Luiten (Ned), John Senden (Aus)
09:59 John Daly (USA), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Ross Fisher (Eng)
10:10 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Esp), Mark Wiebe (USA), (x) Paul Dunne (Irl)
10:21 Oliver Fisher (Eng), Chesson Hadley (USA), Shane Lowry (Irl)
10:32 Richard Sterne (Rsa), George McNeill (USA), Chris Stroud (USA)
10:43 Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Jin Jeong (Kor), Matthew Baldwin (Eng)
10:54 Justin Walters (Rsa), Rhys Enoch (Wal), Billy Hurley III (USA)
11:05 Chris Rodgers (Eng), Scott Jamieson (Sco), Byeong-Hun An (Kor)
11:26 David Duval (USA), David Howell (Eng), Robert Karlsson (Swe)
11:37 Dawie Van Der Walt (Rsa), Cameron Tringale (USA), Masanori Kobayashi (Jpn)
11:48 Chris Wood (Eng), Matthew Jones (Aus), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)
11:59 Hyung-sung Kim (Kor), Erik Compton (USA), Marc Leishman (Aus)
12:10 Koumei Oda (Jpn), Ben Martin (USA), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)
12:21 Brooks Koepka (USA), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha), Edoardo Molinari (Ita)
12:32 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Branden Grace (Rsa), (x) Ashley Chesters (Eng)
12:43 Justin Leonard (USA), Ben Curtis (USA), Paul Lawrie (Sco)
12:54 Ryan Moore (USA), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)
13:05 Matteo Manassero (Ita), (x) Bradley Neil (Sco), Mikko Ilonen (Fin)
13:16  Thomas Bjorn (Den), Patrick Reed (USA), Stewart Cink (USA)
13:27 Tom Watson (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Darren Clarke (N Irl)
13:38 Luke Donald (Eng), Rickie Fowler (USA), Sergio Garcia (Esp)
13:54 Paul Casey (Eng), Harris English (USA), Matthew Every (USA)
14:05 Tiger Woods (USA), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
14:16 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Pádraig Harrington (Irl), K J Choi (Kor)
14:27 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rory McIlroy (N Irl), Jordan Spieth (USA)
14:38 Ian Poulter (Eng), Dustin Johnson (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA)
14:49 Matt Kuchar (USA), Graeme McDowell (N Irl), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa)
15:00 Hunter Mahan (USA), Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Victor Dubuisson (Fra)
15:11 Nick Faldo (Eng), Todd Hamilton (USA), Mark Calcavecchia (USA)
15:22 Brett Rumford (Aus), Ryan Palmer (USA), Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn)
15:33  John Singleton (Eng), Peter Uihlein (USA), Marc Warren (Sco)
15:44 Paul Mckechnie (Sco), Kristoffer Broberg (Swe), Juvic Pagunsan (Phi)
15:55  Rhein Gibson (Aus), Brian Harman (USA), Hyung-tae Kim (Jpn)
16:06 Oscar Floren (Swe), Chris Hanson (Eng), Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jpn)