2017 U.S. Open Pairings Released...

After an awkward false start with Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless only revealing one time despite promotion that promised otherwise (Alex Myers documents the agony here), The Herd invited Paul Azinger on to talk groupings.

Gone are the days of any themes to the groups other than stars versus qualifiers. At least as far as I can tell. Bummer!

Here is the full round one list at USOpen.com.

These caught my eye:

1
7:29 AM
Stewart Hagestad (a)
Chez Reavie
Gene Sauers

10
8:35 AM*
Martin Kaymer
Jordan Spieth
Dustin Johnson

10
1:14 PM*
Brad Dalke (a)
Wesley Bryan
Brendan Steele

1
2:09 PM
Jason Day
Justin Rose
Rory McIlroy

1
2:20 PM
Steve Stricker
Stewart Cink
Phil Mickelson

Comments

[jcg]

Still some themes--

7:51 Best players not to have one a major
8:02 All UK Ryder Cup
8:15 Past Masters champs

835: two sets of U.S. Open Winners
1:03 All "twitchy" (and slow)
1:36 Past Masters Champs
2:20 All "old guy" team

Pretty sure there's more but that was first glance.

[lilkeysdad]

What happened to last year's Open, Amateur and British Open champs playing together?

[Brian]

There are two groupings of Amateur champions. The first group on #1 Thursday are all Oklahoma State Cowboys and Niebrugge grew up 35 minutes away from EH. Kokrak, Woodland and Holmes is a bombers group.

[Scott]

Scott Piercy Shane Lowry Jim Furyk

The "all were in the hunt at Oakmont" group.

[Geoff]

Good spots Brian!

Going deep with that one Scott but I like it!

[Bill Tedman]

@lilkeysdad I was thinking the same thing! Sad!

[Ringer]

HT Scott: They were not only in the hunt, the three finished T2.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Okay, I'll bite. What do you mean "no themes" Geoff. In just the groupings you reference you've got the traditional "Reigning Mid Am Champ/ Reigning Sr. Open Champ" then the "at least one name begins with "B" group" and finally the "Rossie grouping" (3 old guys who got No Shot). I know, I know Phil's not playing...

[Tremendous Slouch]

7:40 AM off the 10th tee: Harman, Fleetwood, Cauley -- all played in the 2009 Walker Cup.

[Peter Norrie]

1:25 - Flanagan, Ramsey & Dechambeau - former US Amateur champions

[Lema's Ghost]

Didn't it stop after they concocted a threesome at Pinehurst where all 3 guys were over 300 pounds? And they figured it out. Also remember a "biggest jerk" threesome but can't recall the players.

[Gail Mittermeyer]

I know that over the years Wisconsin's own, Steve Stricker, has won several tournaments, but I was wondering if he has ever won "a major". I do not recollect him ever winning a major. He is such a solid player, though, and fun to watch. Also, I'm very happy that Sergio Garcia & Jason Dufner won tournaments this year. Now if Phil Michelson will just win the US. Open to complete his run of "the majors", it would be great!!

[Matt]

It was called the "prick pairing", but I didn't see one this year. It's tough because people like Vijay Singh, Rory Sabbatini, and Spencer Levin no longer qualify for the championship, so it's tough to find obvious candidates. The rest of Patrick Reed's group don't fit the bill.

[D. maculata]

@ Lema's Ghost

According to author Mark Shaw:

At the U.S. Senoir Open, "the a-hole pairing" was an annual event, coupling three players whom no one else wanted to play with. They were accompanied, appropriately, by an "a-hole rules official," a gentleman whom no group wanted with them.

[nancy]

DJ and Speith...I like that. Martin is a different kind of player; let's see how that works out.