Big three together at Merion

Tiger Woods will play alongside Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott in a group containing the world’s top three in next week’s US Open at Merion.

It is the first time McIlroy and Woods have been paired together in a major, and McIlroy wrote on Twitter: “Decent group for the first 2 rounds at Merion I see...”

However, the world number two could be forgiven for wishing for a different draw. Of the 13 times they have played together in official events, Woods has shot the lower score 10 times.

The group is also certain to attract more attention as Scott’s caddie Steve Williams worked for Woods during 13 of the American’s 14 major victories to date.

In November 2011, Williams issued an apology for saying at an awards dinner that his celebration upon winning a tournament with Scott was directed at Woods, who had sacked him in July. “It was my aim to shove it right up that black a*******,” Williams had said.

Woods has also been kept away from Sergio Garcia, who is paired with former Open champions Pádraig Harrington and Stewart Cink.

Garcia escaped punishment for what could be construed as a racist remark about Woods after offering an unreserved apology for his “stupid and out of place” “fried chicken” quip.

Meanwhile Harris English was the clubhouse leader after he moved to 10 under par following a superb second round at the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis last night. Pádraig Harrington was level par after 12 holes.