Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy paired together at US Open

McIlroy, Lowry and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose are part of a grouping which will go out early on Thursday and late on Friday. 

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry played the back nine at Oakmont together on Wednesday. Pic: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy’s bid to rediscover his form at this week’s US Open may have been given a significant boost as organisers paired him with close friend Shane Lowry in a dream grouping for Irish fans over the first two days at Oakmont.

The duo were among the first players on the course on Wednesday morning as they played the back nine together and got a look at the notorious rough. Shortly before the end of their practice, the USGA confirmed that they will be spending a lot more time together this week.

McIlroy, Lowry and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose will be in an early-late grouping which will go out at 12.40pm Irish time (7:40am local time) for Thursday’s opening round and 6.25pm on Friday.

While McIlroy’s struggles to kick on from his glory at Augusta have been a talking point coming into the year’s third major, so too has Lowry’s chances at a course where he held the Sunday lead when it last hosted the US Open in 2016. The duo were, of course, teammate for Ireland at the Paris Olympics last summer and were victorious as a team on the PGA Tour last year in New Orleans.

The presence of Rose adds but another subplot given the English veteran was the one who came out the wrong side of that unforgettable playoff at the Masters in April when McIlroy completed the career grand slam.

Among other eye-catching groups include the trio of PGA champion Scottie Scheffler alongside Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa, who will attract plenty of galleries. They go at 6:25pm for the first round and 12:40pm for the second. Fan favourite Jordan Spieth will play alongside LIV Golf duo Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, teeing off at 6:14pm on Thursday and at 12:29pm on Friday. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau has been placed in a group with compatriot Xander Schauffele and Spaniard Jose Luis Ballester Barrio. They tee off at 12:29pm on Thursday and at 6:14pm on Friday.