The best 8 groupings for the first two rounds of the 2023 Open Championship

The final men’s major championship of the year is here, as the best players in the world have descended upon Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship.

The last time the world of golf was at Hoylake was nine years ago when Rory McIlroy earned the title of 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year. McIlroy enters the week in great form with six straight top-10 finishes including a win at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.

The reigning Open champion, however, is Cam Smith, who chased down McIlroy at the Old Course last season. Smith also won in his last start at LIV Golf London.

Here are eight of the best groupings for the first two rounds of the Open Championship. All tee times listed are Eastern Standard Time (Hoylake is five hours ahead).

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Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jason Day

2023 British Open — Jordan Spieth hits a bunker shot on the 15th hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Round 1 tee time: 4:03 am

Round 2 tee time: 9:04 am

Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama

Brooks Koepka hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 tee time: 4:36 am

Round 2 tee time: 9:37 am

Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott

Scottie Scheffler of the United States prepares for a putt on the 3rd green during a practice round prior to The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 18, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Round 1 tee time: 4:47 am

Round 2 tee time: 9:48 am

Cam Smith, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark

Cameron Smith on the seventeenth green on preview day of The Open at the Royal Liverpool, Wirral. Picture date: Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Press Association via AP Images)

Round 1 tee time: 4:58 am

Round 2 tee time: 9:59 am

Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler and Robert MacIntyre

Rickie Fowler hits his fairway shot on the fourth hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 tee time: 5:09 am

Round 2 tee time: 10:10 am

Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau and Justin Thomas

2023 Genesis Scottish Open — Viktor Hovland of Norway tees off on the 6th hole during Day Two of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 14, 2023 in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Round 1 tee time: 9:48 am

Round 2 tee time: 4:47 am

Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose

Round 1 tee time: 9:59 am

Round 2 tee time: 4:58 am

Collin Morikawa, Max Homa and Tyrrell Hatton

Max Homa hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 tee time: 10:10 am

Round 2 tee time: 5:09 am

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek