US Open Announces Pairings

There are few times that a tournament preceding the U.S. Open gets as much buzz as this years St. Jude Championship, which has dominated golf headlines lately. But amongst all the Phil Mickelson and John Daly news come the pairings for the U.S. Open next week at Bethpage Black.

Most times Tiger Woods alone can make a group star-studded, but that isn't the case with the 8:06 AM ET starting time next Thursday. Woods will be matched up with PGA Championship and British Open champion Padraig Harrington, as well as Masters champion Angel Cabrera. In that pairing alone will be 19 major championships, with Woods carrying 14, three for Harrington and two for Cabrera.

The 7:55 AM starting time off the 10th tee on Thursday will include Paul Casey, Geoff Ogilvy and Jim Furyk. Ogilvy took the 2006 U.S. Open crown while Furyk has his lone major win at this event in '03.

Because the PGA Tour is excited to see The Golf Girl actually faint at Bethpage Black, Sergio Garcia, Camilo Villegas and Adam Scott will all be paired together, going off the first tee at 1:25 PM.

Mickelson, who was the fan favorite at Bethpage Black in 2002 in falling just short of Woods for his first major championship at the time, will again be the golfer most fans are cheering for following the news about his wife Amy's breast cancer. Phil will be paired on Thursday with the South African duo of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, going off at 1:36 PM from the 10th tee.

You can find all other pairings for the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black right here.