Tale of the tape: Tiger vs. Phil

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The PGA Championship may have moved to a May date, but it is retaining one of its traditional pairings. Just as it did in August, the event has paired the past three major winners. That means Masters champion Tiger Woods will be play alongside defending champion Brooks Koepka and Open champion Francesco Molinari. Koepka and Molinari both finished runner-up to Woods at Augusta National in April. Here’s a look at some of the headlining pairings for the year’s second major, which will be held next week at Bethpage State Park. One spot in the field remains to be filled. The winner of this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson, if not already exempt for the PGA, will play alongside Adam Long and Craig Bowden. (Note: FedExCup ranking in parentheses) 7:40 a.m. off No. 10: Sergio Garcia (41), Justin Thomas (12), Adam Scott (38): Garcia has finished in the top 10 in three of the four PGA TOUR events at Bethpage Black (two U.S. Opens, two NORTHERN TRUSTs). This group features two of the game’s longtime headliners, who are both pushing 40, along with one of its young stars. Thomas won the 2017 PGA Championship en route to that season’s FedExCup. 7:51 off No. 10: Charley Hoffman (54), Louis Oosthuizen (51), Patrick Reed (62): Reed and Oosthuizen both finished runner-up to Thomas at the 2017 PGA Championship. Reed went on to win his first major at the 2018 Masters, while Oosthuizen won the 2010 Open Championship. Reed won the 2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST, the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs, at Bethpage Black. 8:02 a.m. off No. 10: Rickie Fowler (6), Bubba Watson (56), Justin Rose (11): Rose, the reigning FedExCup champion, and Fowler both have victories this year. Watson is a 12-time PGA TOUR winner. 8:13 a.m. off No. 10: Xander Schauffele (2), Hideki Matsuyama (43), Alex Noren (133): Schauffele already has two wins this season, as well as a runner-up finish at the Masters. Matsuyama is seeking his first win since 2017. 8:24 a.m. off No. 10: Brooks Koepka (8), Francesco Molinari (15), Tiger Woods (17): These are the last three major champions, and all three have wins this season, as well. Koepka won THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, while Molinari won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Koepka is trying to become the first player since Woods to win back-to-back PGAs. Woods won the 2002 U.S. Open here after winning the Masters earlier that year. 1:16 p.m. off No. 1: Jon Rahm (7), Dustin Johnson (5), Jordan Spieth (153): Spieth is trying to complete the career Grand Slam at Bethpage Black, while Rahm is looking for his first major. Rahm recently won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with teammate Ryan Palmer. Johnson won earlier this year at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. 1:38 p.m. off No. 1: Rory McIlroy (3), Phil Mickelson (18), Jason Day (32): This group features three players who have been victorious in both THE PLAYERS and the PGA Championship. McIlroy won at TPC Sawgrass earlier this year. Mickelson was runner-up in both the U.S. Opens at Bethpage Black (2002, ’09). Here are the full first and second round tee times for the 101st PGA Championship. (* Denotes 10th Tee Start) FIRST ROUND 6:45 A.M. ET Rob Labritz Beau Hossler J.J. Spaun 6:45 A.M. ET* Ben Cook Scott Piercy Brian Gay 6:56 A.M. ET Sam Burns Jeffrey Schmid Keith Mitchell 6:56 A.M. ET* Thomas Pieters Patton Kizzire Adam Hadwin 7:07 A.M. ET Byeong Hun An Jason Caron Andrew Putnam 7:07 A.M. ET* Brandt Snedeker Kiradech Aphibarnrat Max Homa 7:18 A.M. ET John O’Leary Harold Varner III Kyle Stanley 7:18 A.M. ET* Henrik Stenson David Lipsky Richard Sterne 7:29 A.M. ET Mike Lorenzo-Vera Justin Harding Sam Ryder 7:29 A.M. ET* Shane Lowry Erik Van Rooyen Tommy Fleetwood 7:40 A.M. ET Vijay Singh Jason Dufner Jimmy Walker 7:40 A.M. ET* Sergio Garcia Justin Thomas Adam Scott 7:51 A.M. ET Graeme McDowell Chez Reavie Brendan Jones 7:51 A.M. ET* Charley Hoffman Louis Oosthuizen Patrick Reed 8:02 A.M. ET Tyrrell Hatton Russell Knox Haotong Li 8:02 A.M. ET* Rickie Fowler Bubba Watson Justin Rose 8:13 A.M. ET Lee Westwood Shaun Norris Charles Howell III 8:13 A.M. ET* Xander Schauffele Hideki Matsuyama Alex Noren 8:24 A.M. ET J.B. Holmes Lucas Bjerregaard Troy Merritt 8:24 A.M. ET* Brooks Koepka Francesco Molinari Tiger Woods 8:35 A.M. ET Joost Luiten Brian Mackey Matt Wallace 8:35 A.M. ET* Aaron Wise Ryan Fox Shugo Imahira 8:46 A.M. ET Casey Russell Luke List Abraham Ancer 8:46 A.M. ET* Julian Suri Marty Jertson Martin Trainer 8:57 A.M. ET Craig Bowden Adam Long AT&T Byron Nelson 8:57 A.M. ET* Lucas Herbert Cory Schneider Sungjae Im 12:10 P.M. ET Michael Thompson Danny Lee Justin Bertsch 12:10 P.M. ET* Ryan Vermeer Adrian Otaegui Jason Kokrak 12:21 P.M. ET Cameron Champ Rich Berberian, Jr. Lucas Glover 12:21 P.M. ET* Alex Björk Rod Perry Ross Fisher 12:32 P.M. ET Emiliano Grillo Daniel Berger Paul Casey 12:32 P.M. ET* Eddie Pepperell Branden Grace Ryan Palmer 12:43 P.M. ET Tony Finau Billy Horschel Ian Poulter 12:43 P.M. ET* Ryan Moore Joel Dahmen Thorbjørn Olesen 12:54 P.M. ET Matt Fitzpatrick Rafa Cabrera Bello Gary Woodland 12:54 P.M. ET* Y.E. Yang Rich Beem John Daly 1:05 P.M. ET Padraig Harrington Martin Kaymer Keegan Bradley 1:05 P.M. ET* Steve Stricker Brian Harman Patrick Cantlay 1:16 P.M. ET Jon Rahm Dustin Johnson Jordan Spieth 1:16 P.M. ET* Sung Kang Shaun Micheel Alex Beach 1:27 P.M. ET Pat Perez Kevin Kisner Bryson DeChambeau 1:27 P.M. ET* C.T. Pan Kevin Na Ryan Armour 1:38 P.M. ET Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson Jason Day 1:38 P.M. ET* Danny Willett Webb Simpson Zach Johnson 1:49 P.M. ET Satoshi Kodaira Matt Kuchar Cameron Smith 1:49 P.M. ET* Kevin Tway Brandon Stone Bronson Burgoon 2:00 P.M. ET Corey Conners Jim Furyk Marc Leishman 2:00 P.M. ET* Si Woo Kim Danny Balin Tom Lewis 2:11 P.M. ET Jorge Campillo Stuart Deane Chesson Hadley 2:11 P.M. ET* Jazz Janewattananond Tyler Hall Michael Kim 2:22 P.M. ET Dylan Frittelli Andrew Filbert Kurt Kitayama 2:22 P.M. ET* Mikko Korhonen Craig Hocknull Jhonattan Vegas SECOND ROUND 6:45 A.M. ET* Michael Thompson Danny Lee Justin Bertsch 6:45 A.M. ET Ryan Vermeer Adrian Otaegui Jason Kokrak 6:56 A.M. ET* Cameron Champ Rich Berberian, Jr. Lucas Glover 6:56 A.M. ET Alex Björk Rod Perry Ross Fisher 7:07 A.M. ET* Emiliano Grillo Daniel Berger Paul Casey 7:07 A.M. ET Eddie Pepperell Branden Grace Ryan Palmer 7:18 A.M. ET* Tony Finau Billy Horschel Ian Poulter 7:18 A.M. ET Ryan Moore Joel Dahmen Thorbjørn Olesen 7:29 A.M. ET* Matt Fitzpatrick Rafa Cabrera Bello Gary Woodland 7:29 A.M. ET Y.E. Yang Rich Beem John Daly 7:40 A.M. ET* Padraig Harrington Martin Kaymer Keegan Bradley 7:40 A.M. ET Steve Stricker Brian Harman Patrick Cantlay 7:51 A.M. ET* Jon Rahm Dustin Johnson Jordan Spieth 7:51 A.M. ET Sung Kang Shaun Micheel Alex Beach Pat Perez Kevin Kisner Bryson DeChambeau 8:02 A.M. ET C.T. Pan Kevin Na Ryan Armour 8:13 A.M. ET* Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson Jason Day 8:13 A.M. ET Danny Willett Webb Simpson Zach Johnson 8:24 A.M. ET* Satoshi Kodaira Matt Kuchar Cameron Smith 8:24 A.M. ET Kevin Tway Brandon Stone Bronson Burgoon 8:35 A.M. ET* Corey Conners Jim Furyk Marc Leishman 8:35 A.M. ET Si Woo Kim Danny Balin Tom Lewis 8:46 A.M. ET* Jorge Campillo Stuart Deane Chesson Hadley 8:46 A.M. ET Jazz Janewattananond Tyler Hall Michael Kim 8:57 A.M. ET* Dylan Frittelli Andrew Filbert Kurt Kitayama 8:57 A.M. ET Mikko Korhonen Craig Hocknull Jhonattan Vegas 12:10 P.M. ET* Rob Labritz Beau Hossler J.J. Spaun 12:19 P.M. ET Ben Cook Scott Piercy Brian Gay 12:21 P.M. ET* Sam Burns Jeffrey Schmid Keith Mitchell 12:21 P.M. ET Thomas Pieters Patton Kizzire Adam Hadwin 12:32 P.M. ET* Byeong Hun An Jason Caron Andrew Putnam 12:32 P.M. ET Brandt Snedeker Kiradech Aphibarnrat Max Homa 12:43 P.M. ET* John O’Leary Harold Varner III Kyle Stanley 12:43 P.M. ET Henrik Stenson David Lipsky Richard Sterne 12:54 P.M. ET* Mike Lorenzo-Vera Justin Harding Sam Ryder 12:54 P.M. ET Shane Lowry Erik Van Rooyen Tommy Fleetwood 1:05 P.M. ET* Vijay Singh Jason Dufner Jimmy Walker 1:05 P.M. ET Sergio Garcia Justin Thomas Adam Scott 1:16 P.M. ET* Graeme McDowell Chez Reavie Brendan Jones 1:16 P.M. ET Charley Hoffman Louis Oosthuizen Patrick Reed 1:27 P.M. ET* Tyrrell Hatton Russell Knox Haotong Li 1:27 P.M. ET Rickie Fowler Bubba Watson Justin Rose 1:38 P.M. ET* Lee Westwood Shaun Norris Charles Howell III 1:38 P.M. ET Xander Schauffele Hideki Matsuyama Alex Noren 1:49 P.M. ET* J.B. Holmes Lucas Bjerregaard Troy Merritt 1:49 P.M. ET Brooks Koepka Francesco Molinari Tiger Woods 2:00 P.M. ET* Joost Luiten Brian Mackey Matt Wallace 2:00 P.M. ET Aaron Wise Ryan Fox Shugo Imahira 2:11 P.M. ET* Casey Russell Luke List Abraham Ancer 2:11 P.M. ET Julian Suri Marty Jertson Martin Trainer 2:22 P.M. ET* Craig Bowden Adam Long AT&T Byron Nelson 2:22 P.M. ET Lucas Herbert Cory Schneider Sungjae Im  

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If you’ve yet to take a moment to soak in what the 118th U.S. Open is giving to us, do yourself that favor. As fantasy golf gamers, there’s a high probability that you’re also a fan of the sport. That’s not tongue-in-cheek; that’s a serious statement. With the proliferation of DFS flooding our universe for purposes not necessarily motivated by traditional interests, we have brothers and sisters out there who don’t even know where Shinnecock Hills is located much less have any awareness or curiosity about what happened when the USGA was last in town in 2004. (For the record, this week’s host course is in Southampton on the East End of Long Island. It’s so far east on U.S. soil that the first threesome will go off split tees on Thursday at 3:45 a.m. Pacific Time. If you’re in Hawaii, you could watch a few guys knock it around before hitting the sack on Wednesday night.) Anyway, no matter the makeup of today’s baseline audience, how the field of 156 in the season’s second major lines up also ticks the box of something special for gamers. Consider that every eligible qualifier is committed to compete. There are no concerning injuries, no serious illnesses (of which we are aware), no imminent births with private jets idling nearby and no personal reasons or travel concerns superseding this opportunity. Also consider that almost all of the short-listers who capture our attention as an option every time they tee it up offer reasonable possibilities to contend. This is rarely the case and arguably the strongest such moment in time for this generation. It would require far less time reviewing who among the chalk to avoid: Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia. See? Next case. So bursting with promise, the field presents yet another rarity – the chance to invest with your heart influencing the negotiations. Really. Want another go at riding shotgun with Phil Mickelson as he chases the career grand slam for the fifth consecutive year? Go for it. Not only is he physically poised, no one will have more support among the New York faithful. Love Dustin Johnson in the afterglow of a six-shot runaway in Memphis? Of course you do. No one has stated a stronger case to break the egg and become the first to prevail at the U.S. Open the week after polishing off a victory. Keen on Brooks Koepka to defend? Well, I’ll tug on that leash and remind you that it’s been 29 years since Curtis Strange was the last to go back-to-back in the U.S. Open, but Koepka isn’t a foolish investment by any stretch. What I love even more than his potential is that this is just his fifth start since returning to competition after sitting out almost four months to allow his left wrist to heal. No one is more fresh. Jason Day. Justin Thomas. Jon Rahm. Justin Rose. Hideki Matsuyama. Stop it already. I’m not talking you out of any of those guys, either. J-Wall essentially stole my thunder in his comment below about Rickie Fowler. The recently engaged 29-year-old is facing his challenge as one of the best in the world who has yet to win a major head-on. He hasn’t balked at gushing over Shinnecock Hills. He knows the course as well as anyone in the field. He’s benefited by relatively wide fairways. His ball flight is ideal if the wind kicks up. And on and on and on. Tommy Fleetwood is sure to be a popular pick. His personality is infectious, but his results and profile are inspiring. He’s also built for the center stage of a major. In any other preview and you’d accuse me of burying Rory McIlroy, but not this week. That he’s shoving for attention makes him look even more attractive. Expect his ownership percentage to be low. For the purpose of drawing a hard line, holster Masters winner Patrick Reed, PLAYERS champ Webb Simpson, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Matt Kuchar and Marc Leishman. At least half of those guys will be on our radar at Carnoustie for The Open Championship as well as other stops down the stretch. The only advice that two-man gamers need this week is to remember to submit your picks. You’re as golden as this age of the game. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2017-18. The numerical values in parentheses represent the order of relative confidence of where to use each golfer if multiple sites are listed (e.g. 1 for strongest, 2 for next-strongest and so on). To present weighted confidence in real time, numerical values will not change all season no matter how many tournament remain listed for each golfer. All are pending golfer commitment. Daniel Berger … Travelers (2) Paul Casey … Travelers (4); WGC-Bridgestone (5); Dell Technologies (2); TOUR Championship (3) Kevin Chappell … WGC-Bridgestone (2); Dell Technologies (3) Jason Day … U.S. Open (2); Canadian (11); WGC-Bridgestone (9); PGA Championship (1); THE NORTHERN TRUST (8); Dell Technologies (5) Jason Dufner … U.S. Open (4); Wyndham (6); TOUR Championship (7) Tony Finau … Greenbrier (2); Canadian (4) Rickie Fowler … WGC-Bridgestone (3); THE NORTHERN TRUST (10); Dell Technologies (6) Sergio Garcia … Open Championship (1); TOUR Championship (4) Branden Grace … U.S. Open (4); WGC-Bridgestone (3) Bill Haas … Wyndham (2) Brian Harman … John Deere (3) Russell Henley … Greenbrier (2) Charley Hoffman … Travelers (2); Canadian (3) Dustin Johnson … U.S. Open (13); Canadian (10); WGC-Bridgestone (14); PGA Championship (9); Dell Technologies (11); TOUR Championship (6) Zach Johnson … John Deere (1); Open Championship (5); WGC-Bridgestone (6); TOUR Championship (8) Kevin Kisner … Wyndham (6) Russell Knox … Dell Technologies (7) Brooks Koepka … U.S. Open (1; defending); Open Championship (4); WGC-Bridgestone (6); PGA Championship (2) Matt Kuchar … Canadian (3); WGC-Bridgestone (7); THE NORTHERN TRUST (9) Marc Leishman … Travelers (2); Open Championship (1) Hideki Matsuyama … U.S. Open (6); WGC-Bridgestone (8; defending) Graeme McDowell … WGC-Bridgestone (3) Rory McIlroy … Open Championship (4); WGC-Bridgestone (7); Dell Technologies (5); TOUR Championship (3) Phil Mickelson … Open Championship (5) Louis Oosthuizen … U.S. Open (5); PGA Championship (4); Dell Technologies (3) Scott Piercy … John Deere (6) Patrick Reed … Travelers (5); PGA Championship (8); Wyndham (7); THE NORTHERN TRUST (9); Dell Technologies (2) Justin Rose … Open Championship (8); WGC-Bridgestone (7); TOUR Championship (2) Charl Schwartzel … U.S. Open (5); Open Championship (6); WGC-Bridgestone (2) Adam Scott … U.S. Open (10); Open Championship (8); WGC-Bridgestone (3); Dell Technologies (9); TOUR Championship (6) Webb Simpson … Travelers (8); Greenbrier (5); Wyndham (1) Brandt Snedeker … U.S. Open (5); Travelers (6); Canadian (3); Wyndham (4) Jordan Spieth … Travelers (6; defending); John Deere (7); Open Championship (9; defending); WGC-Bridgestone (10); TOUR Championship (4) Brendan Steele … Travelers (3) Henrik Stenson … Open Championship (6); WGC-Bridgestone (4); PGA Championship (7); Wyndham (8; defending); Dell Technologies (9); TOUR Championship (2) Justin Thomas … Dell Technologies (6; defending); TOUR Championship (3) Jimmy Walker … Greenbrier (8); Dell Technologies (7) Tiger Woods … WGC-Bridgestone (3)

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