Cam Smith will launch his bid to reclaim the claret jug in a heavyweight trio with British Open organisers scheduling a blockbuster finish to the opening day.
The 2022 champion will head out at Royal Troon a minute before midnight AEST on Thursday (1459 local time). Smith has been partnered with Irish 2019 winner Shane Lowry and 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzgerald, of England, both of whom are sure to have plenty of crowd support.
The threeball will be followed by an American trio featuring this year's Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and Cameron Young.
There will be a buzz on the Scottish links course with the hour preceding Smith's group including several champions of multiple majors: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Padraig Harrington and Collin Morikawa.
Also going out in this period are recent winners Xander Schauffele (PGA 2024), Wyndham Clark (US Open 2023), and Hideki Matsuyama (Masters 2021).
It is a much earlier start for Adam Scott, who was cruelly robbed of victory in the Scottish Open at the weekend. He goes out at 0730 local time (1630 AEST) with Danish Ryder Cup player Nicolai Hoejgaard and Japan's Keita Nakajima.
Scott's round is sandwiched by those featuring fellow Australians Min Woo Lee and Jasper Stubbs. On a daunting debut for the amateur Stubbs is paired with 2018 Open winner Francesco Molinari and 2013 US Open champ Justin Rose.
Jason Day goes out with Rickie Fowler, a runner-up in three different majors, including the Open in 2014, while the sixth Australian in the field, Elvis Smylie, is in a low-profile trio with Englishman Daniel Bradbury and South African Thriston Lawrence.
The biggest gallery is likely to be the one following Woods, Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay though there will be plenty watching Rory McIlroy, who is with Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa, and goes out after the holder Brian Harman.
Local favourite Robert MacIntyre, who beat Scott so narrowly to win his home event on Sunday, is in the preceding round with Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood.
American Justin Leonard, who won the 1997 Open at Royal Troon, will hit the opening tee shot at 1535 AEST. He is playing with 2004 Troon winner Todd Hamilton and Scottish qualifier Jack McDonald, whose grandad is an honorary member at the club.
Day and Smith have morning starts for Friday's second round, Lee, Scott and Stubbs go out at lunchtime, and Smylie in the afternoon.
BRITISH OPEN TEE TIMES (selected)
THURSDAY (AEST)
16:19 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Ryo Hisatsune (Jpn), Min Woo Lee (Aus)
16:30 Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den), Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Adam Scott (Aus)
16:41 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Justin Rose (Eng), (a) Jasper Stubbs (Aus)
18:36 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Jon Rahm (Spa)
18:47 Ludvig Aaberg (Swe), Bryson DeChambeau (US), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor)
18:58 Brian Harman (US), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Sahith Theegala (US)
19:09 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Max Homa (US), Rory McIlroy (NI)
20:04 Daniel Bradbury (Eng), Thriston Lawrence (SA), Elvis Smylie (Aus)
22:26 Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Jason Day (Aus), Rickie Fowler (US)
23:04 Dustin Johnson (US), Joost Luiten (Ned), Phil Mickelson (US)
23:26 Wyndham Clark (US), Brooks Koepka (US), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)
23:37 Patrick Cantlay (US), Xander Schauffele (US), Tiger Woods (US)
23:59 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Shane Lowry (Ire), Cam Smith (Aus)
SECOND ROUND (selected)
FRIDAY (AEST)
17:14 Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Jason Day (Aus), Rickie Fowler (US)
18:47 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Shane Lowry (Ire), Cam Smith (Aus)
21:20 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Ryo Hisatsune (Jpn), Min Woo Lee (Aus)
21:31 Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den), Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Adam Scott (Aus)
21:42 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Justin Rose (Eng), (a) Jasper Stubbs (Aus)
SATURDAY
01:05 Daniel Bradbury (Eng), Thriston Lawrence (SA), Elvis Smylie (Aus)
(a)=amateur
