WORLD NUMBER one Tiger Woods will launch his bid for a 15th major golf title at next week’s US Open in high-profile company with third-ranked Briton Lee Westwood and South African Ernie Els.
Woods, Westwood and Els are scheduled to tee off on the first hole at 1.36pm (9.36pm. Irish time) in Thursday’s opening round at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. The heavyweight trio will start from the 10th tee at 8.06am (3.06pm Irish times) in Friday’s second round.
Woods, who romped to a 15-stroke victory when the US Open was last held at Pebble Beach in 2000, has several question marks hovering over his form next week.
He has played in only four PGA Tour events this season, with a best finish of joint fourth at the US Masters in April and a missed cut at Quail Hollow.
Pádraig Harrington has been grouped with world number two Phil Mickelson and US PGA champion Yang Yong-eun for the first two rounds. They tee off from the 10th hole at 8.06pm (3.06pm, Irish time) on Thursday.
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