6 first-round pairings to watch at the PGA Championship

Notable tee times and pairings for Thursday’s first round of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.:

7:40 a.m., Ernie Els, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson: Fowler goes after his first major with two guys who’ve done it.

8:30 a.m., Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day: Can’t pack more star power into this threesome, who have 10 major championships between them.

12:15 p.m., Michael Block, John Senden, Harold Varner III: Gastonia’s Varner, in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, makes his debut in the PGA Championship.

1:25 p.m.: Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson: Spieth and Watson are multiple major winners. Is it finally Garcia’s turn to win his first?

1:45 p.m.: Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson: This year’s major winners (Willett, Masters; Johnson, U.S. Open; Stenson, British Open).

1:55 p.m., Graeme McDowell, Webb Simpson, Louis Oosthuizen: Charlotte’s Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open winner, plays with pair of international stars.

This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 5:21 PM with the headline "6 first-round pairings to watch at the PGA Championship."