RORY McILROY WILL begin his quest to add the Masters to his major haul alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Martin Kaymer and Bill Haas at Augusta National on Thursday evening.
The four-time Major winner has been placed in the day’s final pairing and will tee-off at 7.01pm Irish time.
McIlroy is aiming to become just the sixth player to win golf’s Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, Darren Clarke will be the first Irishman off when he begins his tournament alongside Billy Horschel and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick at 4.38pm Irish time.
Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry also have afternoon tee-times with the latter beginning the first Major of the year with former winner Angel Cabrera and big-hitting American JB Holmes.
World number one Jason Day has been paired with Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els.
The Australian, whose tied-second finish in 2011 marks his best showing at the Masters, is the favourite to win the event having posted back-to-back victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WCG-Dell Match Play last month.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth is hoping to become the first player to retain the green jacket since Tiger Woods in 2002.
Paul Casey and amateur Bryson Dechambeau have been paired with the former world number one in Group 9.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who has won the Masters three times, tees-off with Aussie Marc Leishman and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.
Past Masters winner Adam Scott will be joined by Americans Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka while two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson plays alongside England’s Ian Poulter and South African Branden Grace.
Thursday’s tee-times (Irish time):
- 1.20pm: Jim Herman and Steven Bowditch
- 1.31pm: Trevor Immelman, Robert Streb and Derek Bard (A)
- 1.53pm: Sandy Lyle, Bernd Wiesberger and Vaughn Taylor
- 2.04pm: Webb Simpson, Chris Wood and Thongchai Jaidee
- 2.15pm: Tom Watson, Charley Hoffman and Lee Westwood
- 2.26pm: Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Cheng Jin (A)
- 2.37pm: Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Dufner and Patrick Reed
- 2.48pm: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey and Bryson Dechambeau (A)
- 3.59pm: Justin Thomas, Emiliano Grillo and Dustin Johnson
- 3.21pm: Vijay Singh, Hideki Matsuyama and Chris Kirk
- 3.32pm: Harris English, Andy Sullivan and Kevin Na
- 3.43pm: Phil Mickelson, Marc Leishman and Henrik Stenson
- 3.54pm: Juston Rose, Jamie Donaldson and Daniel Berger
- 4.05pm: Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka
- 4.16pm: Mike Weir, Cameron Smith and Sammy Schmitz (A)
- 4.27pm: Ian Woosnam, Troy Merritt, Byeong-hun An
- 4.38pm: Darren Clarke, Billy Horschel and Matthew Fitzpatrick
- 4.49pm: Mark O’Meara, David Lingmerth and Paul Chaplet (A)
- 5.00pm: Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker and Kiradech Aphibarnrat
- 5.22pm: Charl Schwartzel, Davis Love III and Rafael Cabrera-Bello
- 5.33pm: Danny Lee, Russell Know and Smylie Kaufman
- 5.44pm: Bubba Watson, Branden Grace and Ian Poulter
- 5.55pm: Bernhard Langer, Hunter Mahan and Romain Langasque (A)
- 6.06pm: Jason Day, Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els
- 6.17pm: Graeme McDowell, Fabian Gomez and Scott Piercy
- 6.28pm: Jimmy Walker, Soren Kjeldsen and Anirban Lahiri
- 6.39pm: Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia and Ryan Moore
- 6.50pm: Angel Cabrera, Shane Lowry and JB Holmes
- 7.01pm: Martin Kaymer, Bill Haas and Rory McIlroy
Tee-times for Thursday and Friday available here.
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6:06 group looks good. Day, Kuchar and big easy.
The best major by far, Augusta is always in tip top shape and if the big boys carry the form they all have at the moment it’s gonna be EPIC, would love to see Oosthuizen win it after 4 years ago, soooooo close
Would love to see bbc have it for the four days instead of sky (90 ads) sports
A mealy mouthed comment
Sandy lyle still turning up its about time he retired
Why?
The comments section. An over rated place for people demonstrate their inability to finish sentences.
The comments section. An over rated place for people “to” demonstrate their inability to finish sentences.
It’s a fair cop …
I’m going for Shane Lowry to win.
Hope there’s no cussing if he hits one into the Azaleas around amen corner?
C’mon Rory he’s the only reason I’m so proud to be Irish
But yet you click on an article about golf and comment , what a tool
Jason Day will win
Golf is never as simple as that! So many golfers playing well it should be a good tournament.
Golf – an overrated sport for people who like showing off how their pensions. Not for me personally
Well don’t comment on it so!
Is the n in O’Neill not supposed to be capital? I know this is completely off topic, but I’ve always wondered.
Like showing off how their pensions do what? Please clarify.
Do you comment on a band’s Facebook page stating that you don’t like the band Gary?
Love watching golf, particularly the masters. It’s all a matter of taste I guess. C’mon the Irish.
Why did you even click on the article ??
Read in Ivor Robson voice: “on the tee from Plonkerland, Gary O’Neill”
Gary o Neil , well then fu(k off and post somewhere else ,
Bring on the Orish!!!!