DeChambeau and Koepka hold distance on US Open tee sheet

SAN DIEGO — Anybody clamoring for Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka to play in the identical group to begin the U.S. Open must wait for one more match.

DeChambeau, the defending U.S. Open champion, will play the opening two rounds at Torrey Pines with Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and U.S. Beginner champion Tyler Strafaci.

That is preserving with USGA custom of placing the defending champion with the present U.S. Beginner champion and a reigning main champion. The U.S. Beginner champion beforehand needed to stay novice to be exempt to the U.S. Open.

Koepka is enjoying with fellow former PGA champions Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

DeChambeau and Koepka have been engaged in a social media spat that started practically two years in the past and picked up steam with a leaked Golf Channel clip that was by no means aired. Koepka stops his interview on the PGA Championship and rolls his eyes when he sees DeChambeau strolling behind him after which makes use of salty language to precise his emotions.

Extra exchanges and posts adopted in current weeks.

Not solely are they not enjoying collectively, they’re on reverse sides of the draw. Koepka begins Thursday at 7:29 a.m. PDT on the tenth gap. DeChambeau tees off at 1:14 p.m. PDT on the primary gap of the South course at Torrey Pines.

They might nonetheless play collectively this week in the event that they’re on the identical rating on the weekend.

PGA champion Phil Mickelson, enjoying in his hometown in the one main he has by no means gained, shall be enjoying with fellow San Diego native Xander Schauffele and Max Homa.

The USGA put collectively former winners of the Farmers Insurance coverage Open performed at Torrey Pines in January — Patrick Reed, Marc Leishman and Jon Rahm.

There’s additionally an all-Dallas group of former U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris.

The final time the U.S. Open was at Torrey Pines, in 2008, the USGA for the primary time put collectively the highest three gamers on the earth rating — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott. That has misplaced some enchantment with World Golf Championships following swimsuit through the years and featured pairings for streaming usually placing collectively marquee gamers on the PGA Tour.

Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 participant on the earth, is enjoying with Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. All three are former U.S. Open champions.

And in a nod to the British Open, former champions Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinari and Shane Lowry are in the identical group.

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