U.S. Open tee times 2016: Pairings and start time for Thursday’s opening round

The U.S. Open starts Thursday at Oakmont Country Club, as a 156-player field tees off in what figures to be one of the most challenging national championships ever.

It’s the tournament’s record ninth visit to the exclusive Pittsburgh-area club and first since 2007, when Angel Cabrera edged Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk on Sunday to take first place. The course played hard that year, with golfers doing as poorly as 28-over on Thursday and Friday and Cabrera’s victory coming at a rugged 5-over. Scores should be high again.

“Six weeks ago, I said I’d sign for even-par,” defending champion Jordan Spieth said Monday. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be in the red come 72 holes.”

It’s not hard to figure out why scores could be so lofty. The course is both very fair and potentially infuriating. Its greens play like concrete, and even its early cuts of rough can make a golf ball disappear. There aren’t a ton of birdies available for the taking, and even pars are hard to come by. In 2007, the field reached just 52 percent of its greens in regulation, and exactly zero holes averaged below par for the weekend.

There’s rain in the forecast for much of Thursday, and that could change the dynamic of the course significantly. As much as it’s complex, Oakmont is fast, and some moisture on the grounds should help players stay under control.

World No. 8 Adam Scott said the course would play “much, much easier” if rain falls on it.

“The greens become receptive. The fairways become slightly wider because a ball down the edge of the fairway doesn’t run out into the rough. It stays in the fairway. Even though it may play longer, I think it will play much easier if it rains,” Scott said.

Even Spieth, a stated skeptic that anyone will shoot a below-par 72 holes, allowed that rain might change that.

“If it doesn’t change, it will be over par,” Spieth said. If it does, if it rains, you can shoot under par.”

The tournament features a bunch of good storylines. One is another Oakmont trip for Ernie Els, who got the first of his two U.S. Open wins here in 1994. Els shot 4-under that year and won a three-way playoff against Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts. Els struggled to 21-over and didn’t challenge for a win in 2007, so he’ll try to be more 1994 than 2007 this week. “When you win a U.S. Open, Oakmont is one of the iconic venues. Some great champions have won here,” Els said. “I’m fortunate to get my name on the trophy here at Oakmont.” Now, Els gets to try again.

The good news for all these contenders is that it started pouring buckets on Wednesday around 8 p.m., which should soften things up considerably for that opening round. Thursday should be the day to go low and get some birdies and this enormous field will go in threesomes off split tees all day, beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET. Here’s the full tee sheet for the opening round: