THE PAIRINGS FOR the first and second rounds of next week’s US Open have been released and organisers have paired the Northern Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell with American Webb Simpson.
It’s a star-studded group as it contains the 2010, 2011 and 2012 US Open winners and, combined with McIlroy’s apparent resurgence in form, should ensure plenty of camera time for the trio.
Offaly’s Shane Lowry will line-up alongside Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge and American Kevin Stadler while Darren Clarke will have the South African pair of Ernie Els and Louis Ooshuizen for company on Thursday and Friday.
Last year’s winner, Justin Rose, will play alongside 2013 amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick and Phil Mickelson who, famously, has never won the tournament, finishing second a record six times.
The full list groups can be found here.