After a quite remarkable week off the course on the back of the PGA Tour's merge with rivals LIV Golf, attention now turns onto it as the world's best players tee it up at the U.S. Open.
Professional golf was left in a state of shock last week after the PGA Tour confirmed they would be joining forces with LIV after 12 months of bitter feuding. It still remains to be seen what the merger means for the sport, with many big-name players none the wiser as to how the rival circuits will move forward.
Amid the drama, the golfing world now turns its attention to the small matter of the third major championship of the season, as the Los Angeles Country Club plays host to the U.S. Open.
All eyes were on Monday's tee time announcements, and tournament organisers have not disappointed. Here is a look at six groups from round one and two not to be missed when the action kicks off on Thursday.
3:51pm BST: Tom Hoge, Sergio Garcia, Sepp Straka
One man who looked set to miss out on this week's event due to his LIV Golf allegiances was Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard had been a mainstay in majors in recent years, but after falling down the world rankings he was cut from last month's PGA Championship.
Keen to not miss out again, Garcia went through qualifying to earn a spot at the U.S. Open. Whilst the Spaniard was not paired with two of golf's biggest names in Tom Hoge and Sepp Straka respectively, Garcia will be one to keep an eye on having played such a pivotal role in the battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
8:59pm BST: Phil Mickelson , Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley
One name who has arguably played the biggest role in professional golf's 12-month saga is Phil Mickelson. The American became the sport's biggest name to join LIV last summer and has not held back in his criticism of the PGA Tour since.
Amid everything going on in the world of golf, there is also added incentive on this week's U.S. Open for Mickelson, as he aims to complete the career Grand Slam with a win in Los Angeles. Mickelson will tee it up alongside former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and PGA Tour loyalist Keegan Bradley.
3:40 BST: Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton
Another group that will see players from both sides of the divide is that of Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrell Hatton and Francesco Molinari. DeChambeau proved to be one of LIV's star signings in 2022 and has spoken strongly about his support for the Saudi-backed series since.
DeChambeau will be joined by another star who is not afraid to share his opinion in Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who opted to stick by the PGA Tour despite rumours of a LIV Golf offer. The third member of the trio is a man who has dedicated his career to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in Italian Francesco Molinari.
9:32pm BST: Cam Smith, Sam Bennett, Matt Fitzpatrick
Heading into any tournament there is always plenty of focus on the star defending their title, and this year will prove no different for Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman made history at Brookline in 2022, securing his first major title at the very place he won the U.S. Amateur title nine years prior.
He will begin his title defence alongside Aussie star Cam Smith in rounds one and two. Smith himself is no stranger to winning major championships, after securing The Open at St Andrews last July, before rocking the world of golf by defecting to LIV weeks later. Another U.S. Amateur in 2022 champion ,Sam Bennett will make up the trio.
9:54pm BST: Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy
Arguably the most exciting group confirmed on Monday was that of Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama. Both Koepka and McIlroy have played pivotal roles in golf's recent battle, but on opposing sides. McIlroy has proven to be a prominent figure in the Tour's bid to suffocate the LIV charge over the past 12 months as arguably its biggest critic.
Koepka meanwhile has become the face of the opposition, having emerged as LIV's first ever major champion since its inception, when winning last month's PGA Championship. Amid the Koepka-McIlroy drama, there is also the addition of 2021 Masters champion Matsuyama to cap off an eye-catching group.
4:24pm BST: Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm
There is seemingly not a hotter group in the field on Thursday and Friday than Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm. One of the best to not yet win a major, Xander Schauffele will be out to break his duck this week in LA on the back of a top 10 and top 20 finish in the first two flagship events of the year.
Hovland finds himself in the same boat and has recently emerged as a tournament favourite after getting over the line at this month's Memorial Tournament. One man who is already part of the major winner's group in Rahm, and after adding the green jacket to his collection in April, he will no doubt be out for U.S. Open title No. 2 come this Sunday.
