Tee Times Announced for the British Open
This week the golf world turns to Muirfield in Scotland, sight of the British Open and the season’s third major. Here is a look at some of the tee times and pairings for the first two rounds Thursday and Friday.
Dustin Johnson, Nicolas Colsaerts, Bubba Watson (3:44am ET Thursday and 8:45am ET Friday)- All three are big hitters off the tee, all ranking in the top five in average yardage off the tee. Loxahatchee River resident Dustin Johnson comes in with two top 10 finishes in his last two British Open appearances including a runner up finish in 2011.
Ernie Els, Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker (4:11am ET Thursday and 9:12am ET Friday)- Els is not just the defending British Open champion, he is defending Muirfield champion. The Jupiter resident won the Claret Jug both last year and the last time that Muirfield hosted the event in 2002. With Justin Rose winning last month’s U.S. Open, Snedeker is the lone player in the pairing without a major championship.
Rory Mcllroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Phil Mickelson (4:44am ET Thursday and 9:45am ET Friday)- Mickelson finally got over the hump and one in the UK this past weekend when he took down the Scottish Open. A win at the British would put him closer to the career grand slam. For Mcllroy, he is still in search of his first win of the 2013 season. The best finish at the British Open for the Palm Beach Gardens resident is a tie for third in 2010.
Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia (9:01am ET Thursday and 4:00am ET Friday)- The biggest surprise out of this group is that Schwartzel is the only major winner (the Old Palm resident won the 2011 Masters). Since making his British Open debut in 1995, Westwood has four top-10 finishes including back-to-back top-5s in 2009 and 2010.
Luke Donald, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott (9:12am ET Thursday and 4:11am ET on Friday)- Donald only has one top-10 finish at The Open, when the Bears Club resident finished in a tie for eighth last year. He will be paired with Matt Kuchar who already two wins to his name this year including the Memorial and Adam Scott who lost a four shot lead with four holes to go at last year’s Open.
Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen (9:45am ET Thursday and 4:44am Friday)- Woods, who has missed the last few weeks with a left elbow injury has said that he has recovered and is ready to go. The Jupiter Island resident, who has already won on the tour four times this year, will look to end his major drought at 16. He will be paired with 2010 British Open winner Loius Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell, fresh off his win at the French Open.
For a complete list of tee times and pairings, visit www.theopen.com.