Beginning with a threesome of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson, the United States Golf Association put together several eye-opening groupings in the starting times announced Thursday for next week's U.S. Open.

Woods, who will be pursuing his fourth U.S. Open title, will tee off with Mickelson and Watson at 10:33 a.m. ET June 14 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. They will start their second round at 4:29 p.m. ET on Friday.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy will be on the other side of the draw on Thursday, starting at 1:29 p.m. off the first tee. The world's second-ranked player, McIlroy is grouped with No. 1 Luke Donald and No. 3 Lee Westwood.