US Open Tee Times 2017: Pairings and Predictions for Thursday Schedule

There are some thrilling pairings in the opening round of the 2017 U.S. Open on Thursday, with former winners Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer grouped together.

The trio will tee off at 2:35 p.m. BST (9:35 a.m. ET), while another group of top contenders, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Jason Day, tee off at 8:09 p.m. BST (3:09 p.m. ET).

Among the other notable groupings are Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia at 7:36 p.m. BST (2:36 p.m. ET) and Henrik Stenson, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen at 7:47 p.m. BST (2:47 p.m. ET).

The tee times run from 12:45 p.m. BST (7:45 a.m. ET) through to 8:42 p.m. BST (3:42 p.m. ET). The full listing can be found at the tournament's official website, and read on for some predictions as to how the first round might play out.

Spieth and McIlroy to Make a Strong Start

Spieth is one of just a handful of players in the field with prior experience of the Erin Hills course in Wisconsin, having played there in the 2011 U.S. Amateur, in which he reached the quarter-finals.

The American has downplayed the importance of that experience, per Golf.com's Josh Berhow, but it could give him a leg up on the competition in what's set to be a particularly tricky U.S. Open this year.

Spieth is anticipating a difficult test this year, per Fox Sports:

That may well be the case on the par-72 course, which contains 138 bunkers that have been designed to be as tricky to escape as possible.

With his prior experience, he may be better equipped to handle the numerous hazards, and that could particularly count for something on the first day.

Incredibly, he and McIlroy have identical records at majors over the last four years, per Golf Channel's Justin Ray:

The 2011 U.S. Open winner failed to make the cut last year and has issues with consistency, but at his best, he's almost unrivalled, and so he'll always be a contender at the majors.

McIlroy has only played in six PGA Tour events this season because of injury, but he has made the cut in all six and finished in the top 10 on four occasions.

A rib injury has kept him out of action since the Players Championship, but he is in good condition upon his return, per Golf.com:

That's just as well on the lengthy course, where his ability to hit long will be needed.

According to Heavy.com's Tim Keeney, while he hasn't played enough rounds this year to enter the PGA Tour's rankings, his 308.5-yard driving distance would put him fifth. Further, his 1.100 strokes gained per round off the tee and 1.831 from tee-to-green put him behind only Johnson.

If he can keep his putting tight, he can make his gains on the rest of the course and make a strong start.