Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott paired for first two rounds of U.S. Open

The U.S. Open isn't until next week, but the USGA gave us an exciting preview of what to come with the announcement on Friday that Tiger Woods would be paired with Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott for the first two rounds.

The pairing means for the third year in a row the top three ranked golfers in the world will be in the same group for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open, and it adds plenty of fun story lines.

The obvious one is the fact that Woods and McIlroy will be paired together for the first time in a major championship. The two have played 12 times previous, with Woods getting the better of McIlroy nine times, but they've never seen action alongside each other in one of the big four events on the PGA Tour schedule.

The grouping will feature 17 career major wins, and also will have Tiger's old caddie, Steve Williams, walking in the group as he will be on the bag for Scott, the 2013 Masters champion.

The opening round on Thursday will see these three off at 1:14 PM, meaning Friday will be an early start at 7:44 for this group.

What does McIlroy think of this?

And his buddy Graeme McDowell?