4 Apr 2012

Masters pairings out

12:21 pm on 4 April 2012

The four-times Masters golf champion Tiger Woods has a mid-morning tee-off at this year's prestigious major tournament at Augusta National, which starts on Friday in Georgia.

Woods is the outright favourite after ending a two and a half year title drought two weeks ago, and tees off alongside Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and South Korean Bae Sang-Moon.

The world golf number two and US Open champion Rory McIlroy is second favourite with the bookies and McIlroy's got the second-latest afternoon start, in a trio featuring Argentina's 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera and local Bubba Watson.

The final pairing features the third favourite Phil Mickelson of the USA, his in-form compatriot Hunter Mahan, who's leaped to the top of the money list and the American rankings after two PGA Tour wins this year, and Swede Peter Hanson.

World number one Luke Donald of England's in the pairing right after Woods, with Italy's Francesco Molinari and the USA's Nick Watney.

The Australian Adam Scott tees off with local Bo Van Pelt and Germany's Martin Kaymer earlier in the morning, while the current Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa has a late morning start alongside Americans Keegan Bradley and Kelly Kraft.