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LONDON. – Rory McIlroy has been grouped with world No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson for the opening two rounds of The 146th British Open.

McIlroy, who heads to Royal Birkdale off the back of three missed cuts in his last four starts, has been handed a 2.48pm tee time alongside Johnson and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia features with Jason Day and 2015 Open winner Zach Johnson, while defending champion Henrik Stenson has been grouped with two-time major champion Jordan Spieth for the opening two rounds of The Open.

The Swede, who won in record-breaking fashion at Royal Troon last year, begins his defence on Thursday morning with Spieth and Si Woo Kim – who became the youngest-ever of the Players Championship in May.

Padraig Harrington, who claimed a four-shot win the last time The Open was held at Royal Birkdale in 2008, will begin his week with Pat Perez and big-hitting Thomas Pieters, while Justin Rose partners Justin Thomas and 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen. – Sky Sports.