Five groups to watch in the Masters and tee times for first two days

Rory McIlroy has been drawn in the final group for Thursday's opening round of the Masters as he seeks the victory he needs to complete the career grand slam.

Five groups to watch in the Masters and tee times for first two days

Rory McIlroy has been drawn in the final group for Thursday's opening round of the Masters as he seeks the victory he needs to complete the career grand slam.

Here, we look at five notable groups hoping to make a good start to the first major championship of the season.

2.15pm (Irish time) - Tom Watson, Charley Hoffman, Lee Westwood

Westwood has a consistent record around Augusta and Hoffman was joint second after an opening 67 last year, but most eyes will be on two-time winner Tom Watson, who is making his final Masters appearance.

Phil Mickelson congratulates Keegan Bradley after his putt on the sixth hole during a practice today. Pic: PA
Phil Mickelson congratulates Keegan Bradley after his putt on the sixth hole during a practice today. Pic: PA

2.48pm - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau

Defending champion Spieth is seeking to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only players to win back-to-back titles, while "golfing scientist" and US Amateur champion DeChambeau - who uses irons all cut to the same length - will turn professional next week.

5.44pm - Bubba Watson, Branden Grace, Ian Poulter

Watson won the green jacket in 2014 and 2012 but has been hampered by sinus problems in the build-up. The Masters is the only major of 2016 for which Poulter is currently exempt, but he was sixth 12 months ago and third in Puerto Rico in his last PGA Tour event.

6.06pm - Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Ernie Els

Day comes into the week ranked number one in the world after victories in his last two starts and having claimed a maiden major in the 2015 US PGA Championship. Els has overcome the dreaded yips this year to revive his career.

7.01pm - Martin Kaymer, Bill Haas, Rory McIlroy

Two-time major winner Kaymer has missed the cut in five of his eight Masters appearances and was thrashed 8&6 by Zach Johnson in the WGC-Dell Match Play. McIlroy is looking to win a first green jacket to become the sixth player to complete a career grand slam, but is the only member of the world's top five not to have won in 2016.

MASTERS: TEE TIMES

(All times Irish)

Thursday

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 .

FRIDAY

1.20pm: C Smith (Aus), M Weir (Can), S Schmitz.

1.31pm: Ian Woosnam (Wal), Troy Merritt, Byeong-Hun An (Kor).

1.42pm: Billy Horschel, Darren Clarke (Nirl), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng).

1.53pm: Mark O'Meara, David Lingmerth (Swe), Paul Chaplet (Crc).

2.04pm: Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha).

2.15pm: Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Davis Love III, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa).

2.26pm: Russell Knox (Sco), Danny Lee (Nzl), Smylie Kaufman.

2.37pm: Bubba Watson, Branden Grace (Rsa), Ian Poulter (Eng).

2.48pm: Bernhard Langer (Ger), Hunter Mahan, Romain Langasque (a) (Fra).

2.59pm: Jason Day (Aus), Matt Kuchar, Ernie Els (Rsa).

3.21pm: Graeme McDowell (Nirl), Fabian Gomez (Arg), Scott Piercy.

3.32pm: Jimmy Walker, Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Anirban Lahiri (Ind).

3.43pm: Daniel Willett (Eng), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Ryan Moore.

3.54pm: Angel Cabrera (Arg), Shane Lowry (Irl), J.B. Holmes.

4.05pm: Bill Haas, Martin Kaymer (Ger), Rory McIlroy (Nirl).

4.16pm: Jim Herman, Steven Bowditch (Aus).

4.27pm: Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Robert Streb, Derek Bard.

4.38pm: Larry Mize, Victor Dubuisson (Fra), Kevin Streelman.

4.49pm: Sandy Lyle (Sco), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Vaughn Taylor.

5pm: Webb Simpson, Chris Wood (Eng), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha).

5.22pm: Tom Watson, Charley Hoffman, Lee Westwood (Eng).

5.33pm: Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Cheng-de Jin (Chn).

5.44pm: Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Jason Dufner, Patrick Reed.

5.55pm: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey (Eng), Bryson De Chambeau (a).

6.06pm: Justin Thomas, Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Dustin Johnson.

6.17pm: Vijay Singh (Fij), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Chris Kirk.

6.28pm: Harris English, Andrew Sullivan (Eng), Kevin Na.

6.39pm: Phil Mickelson, Marc Leishman (Aus), Henrik Stenson (Swe).

6.50pm: Justin Rose (Eng), Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Daniel Berger.

7.01pm: Kevin Kisner, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott (Aus).

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