The draw for The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club has partnered the Masters Tournament ChampionDanny Willett alongside World Number OneJason Dayin one of a number of tantalising groupings.
Willett finished in a tie for sixth last year at St Andrews and will look to improve upon that in the company of 2015 US PGA Championship winner Day, who missed out on a play-off spot 12 months ago by a single shot.
Joining Willett and Day in their 0925 tee time is two-time European Tour winnerRickie Fowler, who took a share of second at the 2014 Open.
Rory McIlroy, the man who beat Fowler to the Claret Jug two years ago, will tee off at 0936 local time in the company of Bubba Watson andHideki Matsuyama.
The Northern Irishman will be making his Royal Troon debut as he looks for his fifth Major Championship alongside two-time Major winner Watson.
2015 Masters and US Open winnerJordan Spieth finished one shot off the winning total of 15 under par last year and will attempt to go one better this week when he tees off at 0903 withJustin RoseandShane Lowry.
Rose, who has two top tens at the Open including his tied sixth finish in 2015, and Lowry are also going for their first Open victories, with the latter hopeful of building on his impressive US Open performance last month that saw him lead after 54 holes.
Elsewhere,Dustin Johnsonwill begin his search for a second consecutive Major win with two-time Major championMartin KaymerandRussell Knox at 1404.
Also teeing off early Thursday afternoon is defending championZach Johnson, who will be grouped withAdam ScottandHenrik Stenson, fresh from his recent win at the BMW International Open.
There will be an early start for two previous Open winners in the form ofPadraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen when they take to the tee at 0825 with Jamie Donaldson.
Two-time Open winner Ernie Elsand 2013 championPhil Mickelson will start at 1326 in a group completed byLee Westwood,who has finished in the top ten on both occasions he has played the course previously.
The opening tee shot will be struck byColin Montgomerieat 0635, with last year’s runner-upMarc LeishmanandLuke Donald in his company. Montgomerie, whose father was club secretary at Royal Troon, will be making his 22nd Open appearance in his first start in the tournament since 2010.
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