Golf's Top 3 to Tee Off Together at US Open

In a move sure to shock purists, the US Golf Association has decided to group top-ranked Tiger Woods and No. 2 Phil Mickelson in the first two rounds of next week's US Open, the AP reports. The two will be joined by third-ranked Adam Scott; the rest of the top 12 will start in trios, too—despite potential pitfalls.

"The heck with what TV wants," said one organizer over foregoing the custom for spreading out the best players' tee times. "Let's do what we want for the championship." Having the world's best play at about the same time will keep changing course conditions out of the equation—though fans could leave in droves once the Big Three are finished. (More US Open stories.)