Ace Kiradech to be in company of big guns
Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat will play alongside defending champion Jordan Spieth of the US and Olympic champion Justin Rose of England in the first two rounds at the British Open which begins tomorrow.
On the first day, the group will start at 15.58pm, Thai time.
Kiradech has played in the oldest golf championship four times but has not yet been able to make the cut. He finished 15th at this year’s US Open for his best finish in major tournaments.
Debutants Danthai Boonma and Jazz Janewattananond are the other two Thais at the 147th Open at Carnoustie.
Danthai is grouped with American Mark Calcavecchia and Shaun Norris of South Africa, while Jazz will play with Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay and Jordan Smith of England.
Tiger Woods will begin his campaign alongside Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Knox of Scotland.
“It has been a while and I’ve certainly missed it,” former world No.1 Woods told reporters on Monday. “This is the oldest tournament we have in our sport.
“Carnoustie is special. This is my fourth time playing it as a tournament. From my first time coming here as an amateur to being back now, it’s just amazing how this course doesn’t change.
“It’s probably the most difficult one we play in the whole rotation.”
Fourteen-time major champion Woods, who won the British Open in 2000, 2005 and 2006, missed the last two editions because of a back problem.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is in the same group as Australia’s Marc Leishman and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson will be joined by Sweden’s Alex Noren and fellow American Charley Hoffman.