USGA officials did Jason Day a big favour by grouping him with Bubba Watson and the defending champion Brooks Koepka for the first two rounds of the 118th US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
The talented big-hitting trio should inspire each other over the first 36 holes.
Day has a pretty impressive US Open record with seconds to Martin Kaymer in 2011, and Justin Rose in 2013, plus a fourth, an eighth, a ninth, a tie for 59th, and a missed cut in seven starts.
But his flat stick has been his Achilles heel of late, and not finshing close to the hole on approach, normally two strengths.
Tidy them up, and the former number one of 51 weeks in 2016 and 2017 will be in with a big chance.
Virtually the same applies to another former world number one of 11 weeks – Adam Scott.
This time last year he was world 31, but he slipped to 71 with too many ordinary performances and being too selective in how many tournaments on his agenda to pay the price.
He had to qualify for Shinnecock last Monday for the first time in his career.
The top 60 automatically qualify, and he was 64.
Day and Scott are two of nine Australians in the hot field with Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones, Aaron Baddeley, Lucas Herbert, Jason Scrivener, and David Bransdon.
Leishman and Smith are also genuine contenders with both of them having the overall game providing they are in sight of the lead at the weekend.
The top money earners this season deserve favouritism.
New world number one Justin Thomas heads the list with $5.76 million, from Justin Rose $4.73m. and Jason Day $4.2m.
Bryson De Chambeau has shot up the list in recent weeks to claim $4,19m from Masters champion Patrick Reed with $3.91m, and veteran Phil Mickelson $3.78m.
Bubba Watson is next with $3.74m, Dustin Johnson $3.59, and Webb Simpson $3.43m, with Patton Kizzers rounding out the top ten with $3.43.
Thanks to the television commentators and the media in general fawning over Tiger Woods’ comeback, bookies have the former champion in with a big chance.
Woods hasn’t won a major since the 2008 US Open a decade ago, and realistically if he’s even in contention it will be bordering on a miracle.
He’ll be teeing off with Justin Thomas, and Dustin Johnson, one of the genuine marquee groups.
So will Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Phil Mickelson, Hideki Matsuyama and Marc Leishman with Rickie Fowler – plus Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, and Martin Kaymer, and Sergio Garcia with Jon Rahm, and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Fullmarks to the USGA for showing some entreprenual skills by teaming up three of the tours most popular golfers in Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, and Jim Furyk with a 147 years between them.
They will attract plenty of crowd support.
Fingers crossed the four days sees one Day on top of the leaderboard.
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