Spotlight follows Lawrie

Paul Lawrie, dreading what might happen to him in next week’s United States Open, was drawn to play the first two rounds with Masters champion Phil Mickelson.

It guarantees that the Scot, whose desperate run of form continued with a missed cut in the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles yesterday, will not be able to try to rebuild confidence in relative quiet.

Because of Mickelson’s first major triumph at Augusta, the group – Kirk Triplett is the other member of it – will have a massive gallery.

Defending champion Jim Furyk, who underwent wrist surgery in March, and former Open champion David Duval, who has not played since November after a terrible slump, are both included in the draw, although it remains to be seen if either of them tees off.

Tiger Woods partners rising American star Chad Campbell and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama, with Paul Casey in the group behind them and Nick Faldo not far behind.

Padraig Harrington partners last year’s runner-up Stephen Leaney and ex-US PGA champion David Toms, while Darren Clarke has Stuart Appleby and Steve Flesch for company.

Justin Rose is one of the last to tee off in the opening round, alongside Scott Verplank and the winner of the last US Open at Shinnecock Hills, Corey Pavin.