England’s Justin Rose, arguably the hottest property in world golf at the moment, will launch his quest for open Championship glory in the company of two-time St Andrews winner, Tiger Woods, over the Old Course on Thursday.

Rose, who has captured his first two US PGA Tour title in recent weeks, tees off at 09.09 in the company of World Number One Woods and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas.

Stewart Cink of the United States will begin his defence of the title at 08.42 on Thursday in the company of another past winner, Ernie Els of South Africa and England’s Ian Poulter.

Veteran Tom Watson, the five-time Champion who ran Cink so close 12 months ago, joins teenage Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, the 2007 and 2008 winner who is seeking his hat-trick over a course where he twice won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. That three ball tees off at 09.20.

Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain, Colin Montgomerie, who finished runner-up behind Woods in 2005, joins World Number Two Phil Mickelson of America and South African Retief Goosen at 14.20, not long after Europe’s Number One and US Open Champion Graeme McDowell have launched their title bids.

Westwood plays at 13.42 with Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain and Australian Adam Scott while Northern Ireland’s McDowell, the hero of Pebble Beach four weeks ago, has two other former US Open Champions for company in Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy.

Link HERE for the full first round draw on Thursday.