Although they are often thought of as the two best American golfers in the past 15 years, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have spent surprisingly little time together on the course when it comes to the game’s greatest tournaments. Thus, despite the fact that neither man is having a particularly memorable season in 2014, it’s still a bit of a novelty that thy are paired together for the opening rounds of the GPA Championship next weekend at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky.
It’s the first time the two have been in the same group in a major since the 2012 US Open, and only the sixth time since 2001. The two are part of a three-man group beginning the day at 8:35 a.m. on the back nine next Thursday along with Padraig Harrington, which means that one trio will have 22 Major victories among them.
Like the other Majors, the PGA Championship prides itself on unique and impressive trios for its initial pairings.For Thursday’s first round, there’s no doubting that fans perched on the back nine are going to see the best action early on, as a number of premiere players will start on No. 10 in the morning session.
The parade of greats starts at 8:05 a.m. with Rickie Fowler, France’s Victor Dubuisson and Ernie Els; followed by Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Lee Westwood at 8:15 a.m. and Jimmy Walker, Ian Poulter and Jason Day at 8:25 a.m.
After Woods, Mickelson and Harrington tee off; the hits keep coming as 8:45 a.m. brings Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka; 8:55 a.m. is Miguel Angel Jimenez, Charl Schwartzel and Jim Furyk; and 9:05 a.m. sports Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar and Louis Oosthuizen.
The very best trio of the day comes at 1:45 p.m. on the first tee as the year’s first three Major winners – Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy are joined together.
Defending PGA winner Jason Dufner is in the next group alongside Y.E. Yang and Keegan Bradley.
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