US Open: 18-21 June

anportmorforjfc · June 12, 2009, 10:48:34 PM

Major champions lead US Open draw

Golf's reigning major champions Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera will play in the same group for the first two rounds of the US Open.

The event starts on 18 June at Bethpage Black, where defending champion Woods captured the 2002 title.

Harrington won last year's Open and PGA Championship while Argentina's Cabrera won the Masters two months ago.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is in an exciting-looking group with American Ryder Cup winner Anthony Kim.

World number two Phil Mickelson, who withdrew from the Tour last month after his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, only decided to take part last week.

Mickelson will be with South Africa duo Ernie Els and Retief Goosen as he chases his maiden US Open triumph after four runners-up finishes.

"I'm not playing just to play," said Mickelson. "Bethpage is a golf course that suits my game. I love that course.

"Obviously, I'm playing because I believe I can win. That's the goal.

"My quest is to win my first US Open after four seconds, numerous close calls, me caring about this tournament so much.

"I'm just fortunate that I'm going to be able to play and I hope to play well. I know after that I've got something going on that's more important and takes my mind off it."

US Open officials decided against grouping the top three players in the world ranking, as they did last year at San Diego.

World number one Woods, going for his 15th major title, will also be hoping to match Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson as the only four-time US Open champions.

The 33-year-old limped to victory in last year's US Open at Torrey Pines, defeating Rocco Mediate on the first sudden-death hole following an 18-hole playoff, then had left knee surgery that sidelined him for the next eight months.

Not since Curtis Strange in 1989 has a player won consecutive US Opens.

anportmorforjfc · June 12, 2009, 10:49:19 PM

Tee-off times (all times BST, US unless stated)

Thursday 1st hole/Friday 10th hole

1200/1730 Rickie Fowler, Casey Wittenberg, Bo Van Pelt
1211/1741 Drew Weaver; Angelo Que (Phi), Simon Khan (Eng)
1222/1752 David Horsey (Eng), John Mallinger, Jose Manuel Lara (Sp)
1233/1803 Rory Sabbatini (SA), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Ryuji Imada (Jpn)
1244/1814 Vijay Singh (Fij), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), KJ Choi (Kor)
1255/1825 Ian Poulter (Eng), Justin Leonard, Robert Allenby (Aus)
1306/1836 Padraig Harrington (Ire), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Tiger Woods
1317/1847 Ryan Moore, Ben Crane, Eric Axley
1328/1858 Lee Westwood (Eng), Zach Johnson, Shingo Katayama (Jpn)
1339/1909 Bubba Watson, Johan Edfors (Swe), John Merrick
1350/1920 Francesco Molinari (It), George McNeill, Simon Dyson (Eng)
1401/1931 Cameron Tringale, Sean Farren, Andrew Parr (Can)
1412/1942 Vaughn Snyder, Ryan Spears, Michael Miles
1730/1200 James Nitties (Aus), Peter Tomasulo, Martin Laird (Sco)
1741/1211 David Smail (NZ), Cameron Beckman, Steve Allan (Aus)
1752/1222 JJ Henry, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Sp), Briny Baird
1803/1233 Kyle Stanley, Lucas Glover, DJ Trahan
1814/1244 JB Holmes, Alvaro Quiros (Sp), Nick Watney
1825/1255 Sergio Garcia (Sp), Camilo Villegas (Col), Adam Scott (Aus)
1836/1306 Justin Rose (Eng), Sean O'Hair, Ross Fisher (Eng)
1847/1317 Rocco Mediate, Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman
1858/1328 Hunter Mahan, Oliver Wilson (Eng), Brandt Snedeker
1909/1339 Billy Mayfair, Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes
1920/1350 Darron Stiles, Shintaro Kai (Jpn), Matthew Jones (Aus)
1931/1401 Tyson Alexander, Charlie Beljan, Ryan Blaum
1942/1412 Matt Nagy, Shawn Stefani, Douglas Batty (NZ)

Thursday 10th hole/Friday 1st hole

1200/1730 JP Hayes, Greg Kraft, Jeff Brehaut
1211/1741 Drew Kittleson, Sangmoon Bae (Kor), Michael Sim (Aus)
1221/1752 Heath Slocum, Charlie Wi (Kor), Richard Bland (Eng)
1233/1803 Ben Curtis, Graeme McDowell (NI), Chad Campbell
1244/1814 Andrew Svoboda, Robert Karlsson (Swe), Steve Stricker
1255/1825 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Jim Furyk, Paul Casey (Eng)
1306/1836 Luke Donald (Eng), Trevor Immelman (SA), Tim Clark (SA)
1317/1847 Andres Romero (Arg), Eduardo Romero (Arg), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Sp)
1328/1858 Michael Campbell (NZ), Boo Weekley, Rod Pampling (Aus)
1339/1909 Kevin Sutherland, Dudley Hart, Ken Duke
1350/1920 Bronson Burgoon, Craig Bowden, Chris Kirk
1401/1731 Ben Martin, Josh McCumber, Kevin Silva
1412/1942 Josh Brock, Trevor Murphy, Nathan Tyler
1730/1200 Matt Bettencourt, James Kamte (SA), Kaname Yokoo (Jpn)
1741/1211 Nick Taylor (Can), Scott Gutschewski, Gary Woodland
1752/1222 Carl Pettersson (Swe), Azuma Yano (Jpn), Charl Schwartzel (SA)
1803/1233 David Duval, David Toms, Darren Clarke (NI)
1814/1244 Anthony Kim, Rory McIlroy (NI), Dustin Johnson
1825/1255 Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Soren Hansen (Den), Peter Hanson (Swe)
1836/1306 Retief Goosen (SA), Ernie Els (SA), Phil Mickelson
1847/1317 Stuart Appleby (Aus), Fred Funk, Todd Hamilton
1858/1328 Mike Weir (Can), Stephen Ames (Can), Stewart Cink
1909/1339 Thomas Levet (Fr), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fr), Raphael Jacquelin (Fr)
1920/1350 Andrew McLardy (SA), Chris Stroud, TBA
1931/1401 Clark Klaasen, Colby Beckstrom, Cameron Yancey
1942/1412 Kyle Peterman, Michael Welch, Cortland Lowe

The Real Laoislad · June 12, 2009, 11:18:00 PM

Thats some group with Woods,Harrington and Cabrera,some great viewing.
I think that could help Harrington actually

heganboy · June 13, 2009, 02:02:04 AM

so I have absolutely fluked a ticket for Thursday's opening round at Beth Page.

So In time honoured fashion I ask for the wisdom of the board, what group do I follow? I think for me its either woods and harrington or wee rory?

choice and reason please.

Carmen Stateside · June 13, 2009, 02:07:20 AM

Missus got tickets for next friday looking forward to it. Does the same groups start together on day 2?

The Real Laoislad · June 13, 2009, 11:57:12 AM

Quote from: heganboy on June 13, 2009, 02:02:04 AM
so I have absolutely fluked a ticket for Thursday's opening round at Beth Page.

So In time honoured fashion I ask for the wisdom of the board, what group do I follow? I think for me its either woods and harrington or wee rory?

choice and reason please.

No contest in my mind, Worlds best golfer playing with the winners of the last 3 majors in Harrington and Cabrera or a annoying little Nordie fecker..
Woods,Harrington and Cabrera without a doubt would be the best to follow imo

gawa316 · June 13, 2009, 12:40:26 PM

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on June 13, 2009, 11:57:12 AM
No contest in my mind, Worlds best golfer playing with the winners of the last 3 majors in Harrington and Cabrera or a annoying little Nordie fecker..
Woods,Harrington and Cabrera without a doubt would be the best to follow imo

Will you be able to see much though as every fecker from under the sun will be following this game?

I'd follow that annoying little nordie fecker you talk off

gerrykeegan · June 13, 2009, 01:10:32 PM

Unless your 8 foot tall or wait for 4 hours at the 15 or 16 until they come around you will see f**k all of mister woods and the Paddy. Security and Media take preference.
Young Rory for me. (Don't find him annoying at all, infact he went up in my estimation for his behavior at the Irish Open) I have watched him up close and its a joy to see someone hit the ball so well.

The Real Laoislad · June 13, 2009, 01:17:11 PM

Quote from: gawa316 on June 13, 2009, 12:40:26 PM
Quote from: The Real Laoislad on June 13, 2009, 11:57:12 AM
No contest in my mind, Worlds best golfer playing with the winners of the last 3 majors in Harrington and Cabrera or a annoying little Nordie fecker..
Woods,Harrington and Cabrera without a doubt would be the best to follow imo

Will you be able to see much though as every fecker from under the sun will be following this game?

I'd follow that annoying little nordie fecker you talk off

Ah I was only half joking

heganboy · June 17, 2009, 04:31:44 PM

Quote from: gerrykeegan on June 13, 2009, 01:10:32 PM
Unless your 8 foot tall or wait for 4 hours at the 15 or 16

I'd be a reasonable enough size of a lump so maybe that wouldnt be too bad

Hotrocks · June 17, 2009, 05:03:12 PM

Just spotted this at bottom of page. Have a go at the Us Open yourself

http://usga.usopen.com/2009/virtualopen/

The Real Laoislad · June 17, 2009, 05:26:36 PM

Quote from: Hotrocks on June 17, 2009, 05:03:12 PM
Just spotted this at bottom of page. Have a go at the Us Open yourself
http://usga.usopen.com/2009/virtualopen/

Thats Class

I see you can play against people you know,we should set up a gaaboard US Open

stew · June 17, 2009, 06:06:59 PM

Quote from: The Real Laoislad on June 17, 2009, 05:26:36 PM
Quote from: Hotrocks on June 17, 2009, 05:03:12 PM
Just spotted this at bottom of page. Have a go at the Us Open yourself
http://usga.usopen.com/2009/virtualopen/

Thats Class
I see you can play against people you know,we should set up a gaaboard US Open

This is briilliant, I am happy to kick your collective arses.

Tony Baloney · June 17, 2009, 07:01:48 PM

Quote from: heganboy on June 17, 2009, 04:31:44 PM
Quote from: gerrykeegan on June 13, 2009, 01:10:32 PM
Unless your 8 foot tall or wait for 4 hours at the 15 or 16
I'd be a reasonable enough size of a lump so maybe that wouldnt be too bad

7'9"?

Diet Coke · June 17, 2009, 07:15:32 PM

I'd follow Garcia, Villegas and Scott, as all the women will be also