Open golf: Jamie Donaldson paired with Ryder Cup foe

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Jamie Donaldson will tee off his Open first round at 14:23 BSt on Thursday
  • Author, Dafydd Pritchard
  • Role, 91热爆 Wales Sport at St Andrews

Jamie Donaldson has been drawn alongside American Ryder Cup opponent Keegan Bradley and Japan's Yuta Ikeda in the first round of the Open.

The Welshman beat Bradley 4&3 in the 2014 Ryder Cup to clinch victory for Europe at Gleneagles.

"He whupped me pretty good that day. He played so good but Jamie's a really classy guy so he didn't rub it in my face," Bradley said.

"He probably should have he played so good. We'll have fun."

Donaldson's group tee off at 14:23 BST on Thursday, while their second round starts at 09:22 BST on Friday.

"Jamie's a really good guy. I'm really looking forward to it - I like playing with Jamie," Bradley added.

"I feel really good. I feel ready to contend and hopefully be there on Sunday."

Pre-tournament favourite Jordan Spieth tees off at 09:33 BST on Thursday morning at St Andrews.

Spieth is in a group with fellow American Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Another notable group sees three-time champion Tiger Woods grouped with Australian Jason Day and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open when it was last held at St Andrews in 2010.

This will be Donaldson's first appearance at an Open held at St Andrews, the so-called home of golf which stages the competition every five years.

The 39-year-old warmed up for the Open by finishing five under par at the Scottish Open, seven shots behind winner Rickie Fowler.