By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els - and the thousands of golf fans who want to watch every blow - will have to be up early for their first round clash in the US Open next Thursday.

The world's top two players knew they would be playing together in the opening two rounds at Olympia Fields near Chicago because they are, respectively, the defending champion and the Open champion.

But they might have hoped for more of a lie-in. They will tee off with American amateur champion Ricky Barnes on the 10th tee at 7.30am local time.

Leading European Padraig Harrington starts at 8am with Americans Justin Leonard and Charles Howell, but his bid for a first major title begins on the front nine.

Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie also have two Americans for company.

In Clarke's case it is Ryder Cup pair Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, while Montgomerie partners Bob Estes and Scott McCarron - the player he was facing when he was heckled during last year's Accenture world match play championship in California.