US Open 2021: When do Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka play? 1st, 2nd round tee times, odds

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have been embroiled in an unsavoury war of words before the 121st US Open begins at Torrey Pines in San Diego on Thursday, but the squabbling American foes won't play together in the first two rounds of the season's third major. Spain's Jon Rahm starts as favourite with last month's US PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson chasing a career grand slam.

Jon Rahm is among the favourites to claim the US Open title.

Image credit: TNT Sports

Spain's Jon Rahm starts the 121st US Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego on Thursday as the 8/1 pre-tournament favourite.

The world number three Rahm has yet to lift a major title, but looks to be in peak form before his trip to California despite testing positive for Covid-19 last weekend.

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The Ryder Cup player was forced to suffer the agony of withdrawing from the Memorial Tournament in Ohio holding a six-shot lead after three rounds, but has been cleared to resume competition after two negative tests.

'Rahmbo' is out with former US Masters champion Patrick Reed and Marc Leishman of Australia. He starts his first round from the 10th tee at 1.36pm local time (9.36pm British Summer Time) on Thursday afternoon.

Rahm shared fifth spot at the Masters in April and eighth at the US PGA Championship last month.

His best finish in a major was a share of third spot at the US Open two years ago when Gary Woodland claimed the title at Pebble Beach, but will have high hopes of joining celebrated compatriots Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia as major winners from Spain.

“I've been playing really good golf all year. Two weeks ago, it's finally clicking all together like I was waiting for it to happen," he said.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau – who claimed his first major at Winged Foot last September – won't need to confront fierce rival Brooks Koepka in the first two rounds after both men were kept apart in the draw.

The duo have been exchanging insults on social media with Koepka apparently offering free beer to fans ejected from the Memorial for taunting DeChambeau.

"I think that's something that the tour needs to handle; it's something I can't control,” said DeChambeau.

“I tried to take the high road numerous times, and I think that, from my perspective, I'll continue to keep doing so and people are going to do what they want to do."

DeChambeau is out with Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Tyler Strafaci at 1.14pm (9.14pm BST) from the first tee on Thursday.

Koepka – fresh from sharing second place with Louis Oosthuizen, two strokes behind Phil Mickelson at the US PGA Championship last month – plays alongside Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas. They start out from the 10th tee at 7.29am (3.29pm BST).

Mickelson – six times a runner-up at the US Open – begins his latest quest for the career grand slam from the 10th tee at 7.51am (3.51pm BST) alongside Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.

In one of the day's marquee groups, former US Open winners Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and world number one Dustin Johnson are out at 1.36pm (9.36pm BST) from the first tee.

A 156-man field starts the event with the cut seeing the top 60 players and ties making the weekend action.

A two-hole play-off will decide the winner after Sunday's final round if required on a par-71 South Course at Torrey Pines that will demand straight hitting and even straighter putting with pin positions likely to challenge the sport's finest thinkers.