Aaron Rai has been drawn alongside 2017 Augusta National champion Sergio Garcia in the first round of the Masters on Thursday, with Jacob Bridgeman completing the three-ball. The 31-year-old will tee off at 12.27pm US time, or 5.27pm UK time.
It will be Rai’s second Masters appearance. The former Shropshire & Herefordshire junior finished tied 27th on his debut last year, a solid start that earned him another crack at Augusta National this week.
The grouping gives Rai a testing opening round, with Garcia bringing major-champion experience and Bridgeman adding another layer to a field that is already loaded at the top. Rory McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam with an emotional play-off victory over Justin Rose 12 months ago, is scheduled to tee off at 10.31am local time with Cameron Young and Mason Howell.
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Scottie Scheffler, who has won the Masters twice in the last four years, is due out at 1.44pm. For Rai, the task is simple enough: stay in touch through Thursday and make the most of the biggest stage he has had since his first walk up the fairways last year.