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2018 British Open Tee Times Released for Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and More

Gill Clark@@gillclarkyFeatured Columnist IJuly 16, 2018

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND - JULY 16:  Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot on a practice round during previews ahead of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 16, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland.  (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The tee times for the 2018 British Open were announced on Monday, with Tiger Woods making his return to the tournament for the first time since 2015.

The American will tee off at 10:21 a.m. ET/3:21 p.m. BST. He plays alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Knox. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson starts at 8:04 a.m. ET/1:04 p.m. BST and is paired with Alex Noren and Charley Hoffman.

Jordan Spieth is the defending champion and will play with world No. 3 Justin Rose and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, per the tournament's official website. They tee off at 8:26 a.m. ET/1:26 p.m. BST.

Rory McIlroy also has an afternoon start as he kicks off at 7:53 a.m. ET/12:53 p.m. BST. The Northern Irishman goes off with Australia's Marc Leishman and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.

Selected Tee Times (All Times ET/BST)

    

1:35 a.m./6:35 a.m.: Sandy Lyle, Martin Kaymer, Andy Sullivan

3:03 a.m./8:03 a.m.: Phil Mickelson, Satoshi Kodaira, Rafa Cabrera Bello

4:36 a.m./9:36 a.m.: Darren Clarke, Bernhard Langer, Retief Goosen

4:58 a.m./9:58 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Kiradech Aphibarnrat

5:09 a.m./10:09 a.m.: Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Chris Wood

5:20 a.m./10:20 a.m.: Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed

5:31 a.m./10:31 a.m.: Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jhonattan Vegas

7:31 a.m./12:31 a.m.: Henrik Stenson, Tommy Fleetwood, Jimmy Walker

7:53 a.m./12:53 a.m.: Rory McIlroy, Marc Leishman, Thorbjorn Olesen

8:04 a.m./1:04 p.m.: Dustin Johnson, Alex Noren, Charley Hoffman

8:26 a.m./1:26 p.m.: Justin Thomas, Francesco Molinari, Branden Grace

8:37 a.m./1:37 p.m.: Jason Day, Shota Akiyoshi, Haotong Li

9:48 a.m./2:48 p.m.: Padraig Harrington, Bubba Watson, Matt Wallace

9:59 a.m./2:59 p.m.: Ian Poulter, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka

10:10 a.m./3:10 p.m.: Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Shubhankar Sharma

10:21 a.m./3:21 p.m.: Tiger Woods, Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Knox

10:32 a.m./3:32 p.m.: Jason Dufner, Ryan Fox, Keegan Bradley

    

Sandy Lyle will get the tournament under way on Thursday. He will take the first shot at this year's British Open at 6.35 a.m. local time. The 60-year-old has said he's sad about the fact this could be his last appearance at the event, per BBC Sport.

Three-time champion Woods will have a lie-in compared to Lyle. The American is competing in his 20th Open and bidding to lift the Claret Jug for the first time since 2006.

Woods has been happy with the conditions at Carnoustie in Angus, Scotland, during practice, according to James Nursey at the Mirror:

James Nursey @JamesNursey

Working @TheOpen this week in Carnoustie. Followed @TigerWoods for the 8 holes he played in practise yesterday. He even used a 7iron off tee at par 4 as fairways so firm & narrow. Said conditions reminded him of his wins in 2000 & 2006 https://t.co/LBRrYV3RGo

Spieth is part of an all-star group with Rose and Aphibarnrat. The trio will be swiftly followed by another exciting pairing in Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler and Chris Wood.

Fowler caught the eye ahead of the tournament with a 458-yard drive at the 2018 Scottish Open, as shown by the European Tour:

The European Tour @EuropeanTour

Rickie Fowler's tee shot on the 10th hole today measured 458 yards. That's more than a quarter of a mile! https://t.co/LgX2JYK0bA

McIlroy can expect plenty of support and, like Woods, he also has an afternoon start.

McIlroy won the tournament in 2014 and hinted at how he will approach the course at Carnoustie, per the Golf Channel's Todd Lewis:

Todd Lewis @ToddLewisGC

Spoke with @McIlroyRory about strategy on a baked out Carnoustie. He hinted at hitting driver quite a bit off the tee because he can fly most of the bunkers and rough is manageable for @TheOpen. https://t.co/7QRStr1Skz

The favourite to lift the Claret Jug is Johnson as he bids to win the tournament for the first time in his career. The American has offered his view on how the course is playing:

Dustin Johnson @DJohnsonPGA

Feeling good for this week and will be hitting driver quite a bit. Everything is dry and playing fast at @TheOpen. https://t.co/Uz58l5im2e

The 2018 British Open should provide plenty of excitement as the world's best golfers go in search of the third major of the season on what is widely regarded to be one of the toughest courses in the world.