In an astonishing break from tradition, the USGA have decided to pretty much make up the groups for the first round of the US Open straight off the top of the world ranking list. In the past, the top 30 or so players (determined according to the number of people expected to want to see them play, as much as their ranking) would be roughly drawn into ten groups, so that those groups could be spread out around the day (and hence around the course) and it was also common to pair the US Open champion with the US Amateur champion for the first two rounds as well.
This year, Tiger Woods will play with Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott in one group, and Ernie Els, Justin Rose and Geoff Ogilvy will be in another.
The intention can only be to whip up a frenzy about a Tiger-Mickelson "duel" right from the first tee, which while TV will love it, could also result in coverage being exclusively of that group, at the expense of hardly seeing anyone else for four hours, which takes a lot of the fun out of the first round of a major, which is watching out for the guys you've never heard of having the round of their lives and shooting 65s.
This year, Tiger Woods will play with Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott in one group, and Ernie Els, Justin Rose and Geoff Ogilvy will be in another.
The intention can only be to whip up a frenzy about a Tiger-Mickelson "duel" right from the first tee, which while TV will love it, could also result in coverage being exclusively of that group, at the expense of hardly seeing anyone else for four hours, which takes a lot of the fun out of the first round of a major, which is watching out for the guys you've never heard of having the round of their lives and shooting 65s.
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