The Open champion Henrik Stenson will partner Jordan Spieth in the first two rounds of The Open at Royal Birkdale.
Stenson and Spieth will be joined by Players champion Kim Si-woo among the early starters on day one today.
Current world number one Dustin Johnson plays alongside Rory McIlroy while Masters champion Sergio Garcia will be joined by Jason Day and Zach Johnson.
England’s Chris Wood and Americans Mark O’Meara and Ryan Moore are first off at 6.35am.
THREE TO WATCH AT THE OPEN…
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Johnson’s form has suffered a dip since he won three tournaments in succession earlier this season, including back-to-back World Golf Championship events, before a back injury forced him to withdraw from the Masters. Since returning to action, Johnson has finished second, 12th and 13th before missing the cut in the Memorial Tournament and the US Open. However, the world number one has a decent record in the Open with three top-10 finishes in his last six appearances, while he also led at halfway at St Andrews in 2015 before fading over the weekend.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
Matsuyama’s Open record is nothing to write home about, with his sole top-10 finish in four appearances coming on his debut at Muirfield in 2013. However, since missing the cut at Troon last year the world number two has gone from strength to strength, finishing fourth in the US PGA, 11th in the Masters and second in the US Open after a superb closing 66 at Erin Hills. Away from the majors, Matsuyama has also collected five wins around the world and was 14th in the Irish Open at Portstewart.
RORY McILROY
Missing the cut in defence of his Irish Open title was a huge disappointment for McIlroy, especially as the tournament benefits his own foundation. However, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise if the world number four follows through on his promise to sharpen his short game. “It’s the simple things I haven’t been doing well,” McIlroy said. “I can hit a five iron from 220 yards into the middle of the green, but I can’t get it up and down from 30 feet.” The 2014 Open champion’s decision to enter the Scottish Open could also turn out to be important in an injury-hit campaign.
