SANDWICH, England — Coming off a record-breaking win at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy is paired with Ernie Els and Rickie Fowler for the first two rounds of the British Open, which starts Thursday.
McIlroy, 22, had a 16-under-par 268 to win by eight strokes — while setting 12 tournament records — last month at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. He is favored to make it two majors in a row at Royal St. George’s.
Defending British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa will play the first two rounds with American star Phil Mickelson and defending PGA champion Martin Kaymer.
The world’s top-ranked player, England’s Luke Donald, is with Ryo Ishikawa and Sergio Garcia. Donald solidified his spot in the rankings with a four-stroke victory this past weekend at the Scottish Open. Second-ranked Lee Westwood of England will be grouped with American Steve Stricker, who won his third straight title at the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic on Sunday, and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
Thomas Bjorn gets a chance to redeem himself after Vijay Singh (back) withdrew. Eight years ago on this course, Bjorn had a two-shot lead playing the par-3 16th when he put his tee shot into the right bunker, then twice watched his shot roll back into the sand. He made double bogey, bogeyed the 17th to lose the lead and closed with a par to finish one shot behind winner Ben Curtis.
“When I get there, I won’t be thinking, ‘This is a horror hole.’ It’s a good hole,” Bjorn said. “I just tried to erase it from my memory, but it might just creep into my mind on Sunday if I am playing well.”
Bjorn has won 13 times worldwide, including this year at the Qatar Masters.
Denver Post wire services
