U.S. Open tees off

Phil Mickelson hits a drive on the ninth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament Thursday, June 14, 2012, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Phil Mickelson hits a drive on the ninth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament Thursday, June 14, 2012, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Published Jun 14, 2012

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San Francisco – The U.S. Open has begun, with light fog blanketing the course.

Shane Bertsch, Martin Flores and Tommy Biershenk teed off in the first group at The Olympic Club just after 7 a.m. Thursday. All three landed in the rough on the par-4 ninth, perhaps an indication of what awaits this week.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson are to tee off shortly after them. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, top-ranked Luke Donald and Lee Westwood have an afternoon start.

This marks the first time Woods and Mickelson have been paired in the championship since Torrey Pines in 2008, when the USGA grouped players off the world ranking. That was also the last time Woods won a major. – Sapa-AP

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