US Open Golf 2013: Tee Times, Date and TV Schedule

With heavy rains softening the short Merion Golf Club, home of the 113th U.S. Open, scores are likely going to be far lower than we are used to seeing at the year's second major.

Unfortunately, according to Weather.com, there are "scattered storms" predicted for the opening two rounds of this tournament as well. So, don't expect a miraculous drying of the grounds in the next five days. 

That is just way too much to ask for from a course that looked like this, in an Instagram pic by Ian Gilley, earlier this week. 

Still, while the course may be more vulnerable than the typical host for the U.S. Open, that doesn't mean it won't be a fine test of skill. Just ask the great Jack Nicklaus.

The Golden Bear, according to MerianGolfClub.com, once said: "Acre for acre, [Merion] may be the best test of golf in the world."

This is Merion’s fifth time hosting the U.S. Open, but only the first since 1981. The reason for the long dry spell is this course's lack of length. At just a hair under 6,996 yards, it is the first major in nine years to play at under 7,000 yards. 

All of this sets up for what should be a wild and entertaining—and hopefully not too wet—tournament. Check out the vitals, and then I'll take a look at the three most interesting pairings for the first two rounds. 

When: Thursday, June 13 to Sunday, June 16

Where: Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Tee Times: First group is off at 7 a.m. ET. For a complete list of tee times for Rounds 1 and 2, visit MajorChampionships.com.

Par: 70

Yards: 6,996

U.S. Open TV Schedule

Date	Network	Time
Thursday	ESPN	10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET
	NBC	3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET
	ESPN	5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET
Friday	ESPN	10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET
	NBC	3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET
	ESPN	5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET
Saturday	NBC	1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday	NBC	1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET

*All stats via PGATour.com.

Groups to Watch 

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott

Well, this is a solid group. Featuring the world's top three golfers, this group is going to have a gallery the size of a small nation following it. 

McIlroy certainly took notice of his group: 

Woods is trying to win his 15th major—which would only be his first since 2008. Adam Scott will be trying to win his second major and second in a row. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy is questing for his third major and second U.S. Open.

Oh, there is also the fact that Tiger will be playing alongside Adam Scott's caddie, Steve Williams, who used to be Tiger's caddie. And before Tiger and Sergio Garcia's little feud became the hottest rivalry on tour, Williams and Tiger held that honor.  

Matt Kuchar, Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker

With the fourth (Matt Kuchar), fifth (Justin Rose) and seventh (Brandt Snedeker) ranked golfers in the world, this group packs a strong punch, but there have been no major victories between them.

It also features a nice mix of styles. Rose is great off the tee with good distance, but he's shaky on the greens. Snedeker doesn't have a lot of distance, but he is great on the greens. And Matt Kuchar just does a little of everything. 

Kuchar enters this tournament on fire. For the first time in his career, he has two wins in a single PGA season, and that includes winning the Memorial his last time out. That win also followed a runner-up finish. 

Snedeker has been wildly inconsistent since returning from his rib injury, but he has a great game for U.S. Open success. And Rose is having a strong season, but he's just 156th in strokes gained-putting this year, and that will likely doom him at Merion. 

Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley

Phil Mickelson is fun to watch at every tournament. You just never know what you're going to get. Mickelson can implode or set the course on fire at any moment.

Also, after being runner-up three times in this major, he is still looking for his first win. At 42, his time is running out.

Of course, Lefty can't complain about his age to this group, as Steve Stricker checks in at 46. Stricker has played in just six PGA events this year, but he's been solid. He has three top-10 finishes and hasn't finished worse than 38th. 

Keegan Bradley is definitely the youngster of this group. Bradley is having an erratic year. He was 50th his last time out, which came at the Memorial, and he was second in his start previous.

It is hard to know what to expect from this group, but whatever happens, it should be entertaining.