Lowry to begin defence with Rahm & Oosthuizen

Shane Lowry will begin his defence of the Claret Jug alongside world number two Jon Rahm and the Champion Golfer of 2010, Louis Oosthuizen, in one of the standout groups for rounds one and two of The 149th Open.

The draw was officially announced at midday on Tuesday, with the eye-catching trio of Lowry, Rahm and Oosthuizen due to begin their opening rounds at 9:58am BST on Thursday before teeing off at 14:59pm BST the following day.

Another standout grouping on Thursday morning will see world number one Dustin Johnson go out alongside Justin Rose and Will Zalatoris at 10:20am BST, 55 minutes after Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau get their campaigns under way in the company of South Africa’s Branden Grace. At the last two Opens, Grace played with the eventual Champion Golfer in rounds one and two (Francesco Molinari in 2018 and Lowry in 2019).

Four-time major-winner Brooks Koepka will go out at 8:03am on Thursday with Jason Kokrak and Garrick Higgo, with two English challengers, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, joined by Abraham Ancer in the preceding group. Another home hope, Lee Westwood, will partner 2009 Champion Stewart Cink and Martin Kaymer at 10:09am.

The afternoon wave in round one is highlighted by two groups due out at 3:10pm and 3:21pm respectively. The first of those sees 2019 runner-up Tommy Fleetwood alongside Justin Thomas and Adam Scott, while 2014 Champion Rory McIlroy is in the next trio with Patrick Reed and Cameron Smith.

Phil Mickelson, Tyrrell Hatton and Kevin Kisner will be just ahead in the 2:48pm slot on Thursday, followed by Xander Schauffele, Robert MacIntyre and Rickie Fowler.

The last player to win an Open at Royal St George’s, Darren Clarke, is out at 8:25am in round one, with Bernd Wiesberger and Joe Long, the 2020 Amateur Champion, for company.

Laird Shepherd, who succeeded Long as The Amateur Champion last month with a sensational come-from-behind victory over Monty Scowsill, joins Danny Willett and Dean Burmester at 7:19am on Thursday, while the honour of hitting the first tee shot of The 149th Open will go to Richard Bland.

The Englishman, who memorably recorded a first European Tour victory at the 478th attempt earlier this year, will tee off at 6:35am on day one with two of his fellow countrymen, Andy Sullivan and Marcus Armitage.

After coming through Regional and Final Qualifying while being followed as part of our Road To The Open series, Sam Forgan will partner European Ryder Cup captain and two-time Champion Golfer Padraig Harrington in rounds one and two. They tee off at 12:42pm on Thursday alongside Australia’s Brad Kennedy.

You can view all of the tee times for round one and two here.