FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 7 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods will play the first two rounds of next week's U.S. Open in the company of Chris Dimarco and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and will be among those who begin the opening round on the 10th tee.
For the first time in tournament history, United States Golf Association officials will have players going off both tees in an attempt to make full use of the daylight.
The tournament will be played at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course, which will be the longest venue ever for the event.
Woods will begin play at 1:35 p.m. next Thursday as he attempts to win the second leg of the Grand Slam. He claimed the Masters in April for the second straight year and for the third time overall. Woods has one U.S. Open to his credit, having won at Pebble Beach two years ago.
Defending champion Retief Goosen of South Africa will also have an afternoon tee time Thursday, beginning at 1:25 p.m. on the first tee with David Duval and David Toms. All three were major championship winners last year with Duval capturing the British Open and Toms the PGA Championship.
The first shots of the tournament will be struck at 7:15 a.m. Thursday by Paul Goydos on the first hole and Dudley Hart on the 10th.
