McIlroy, Koepka in spicy pairing at US Open

LOS ANGELES—World number three Rory McIlroy and newly crowned PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka will make for a spicy pairing in the first two rounds of the 123rd US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.

The two will tee off on the par-70 North Course alongside 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama at 1:54pm (2054 GMT) on Thursday, when the US Open returns to Los Angeles for the first time since it was held at Riviera Country Club in 1948.

Koepka passed McIlroy’s total of four major titles when he won his fifth at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill last month.

McIlroy hasn’t lifted a major trophy since he won the PGA Championship and Open Championship in 2014 -- a drought that drew a dig from Koepka back in 2019 when the American noted that McIlroy hadn’t won a major “since I’ve been on the PGA Tour.”

“I just don’t view it as a rivalry,” Koepka said back then. “I’m not looking at anybody behind me.”

The two also ended up on opposite sides when Koepka made the leap to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, with McIlroy championing the PGA Tour.

Penh, Cambodia. Also in the list are Williams’ relay teammates Michael del Prado, Frederick Ramirez and Joyme Sequita.

Joining them are women’s relay specialists Maureen Schrijvers, Robyn Brown, Bernalyn Bejoy and Jessel Lumapas.

Sonny Wagdos will see action in the men’s 5000- and 10000-meter runs, while John Cabang Tolentino will compete in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with Clinton Bautista.

SEA Games’ eight-time gold medalist Eric Cray is competing in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

Janry Ubas (high jump), William Morrison (shotput), Aries Toledo (decathlon) and Arlan Arbois (10,000 meters) will also join the team.