The U.S. Open tee times and pairings we want to see at Oakmont

The USGA has carved out a tradition at the U.S. Open of putting together some of the spiciest and more enjoyable, on paper, tee times and groupings of the golf season. They look for any kind of common thread or reason to put players together — surnames that rhyme, nationality, players with preexisting drama or past confrontation, legends, players with, uh, a similar paunch. Some of these pairings stir up controversy before the first ball is ever struck, but often they appease the fans’ wishes to see the top talents play together.

We’re just one week away from the season’s second major at Oakmont, and one day away from the groupings announcement. So after scanning through the group already qualified and in the field, here are a few players that would be fascinating to watch play together for the first 36 holes

There are many big hitters in professional golf these days. Distance off the tee has become such an advantage at almost every venue and tournament that every player on the way up comes to the Tour with a swing maximized for bombing it as far as he can. But these three are, aesthetically speaking, in a different class (joined by Jason Day, Bubba Watson, and maybe a couple others). And unlike the John Daly bombers of days gone by, these three could actually make the unknowing and critical spectator think that golf may just be a sport.

We know that wild drives at Oakmont will be punished much more than your normal week on Tour. Early reports from some practice rounds are that you can barely advance it out of the rough when you miss the fairway. That might make some of the big hitters throttle down off the tee at times, but these three are fun to watch with just about every club in the bag from 150 yards and out.

It would also be satisfying for many to watch them smoke drives 340...360...380 yards right after their host USGA released a widely panned study saying driving distance is not on the rise and is not an issue in the modern game.

The conspirators and primary witness from the crimes of the preceding major championship round this season.

At The Players Championship last month, Golf Channel’s John Feinstein reported on air that the PGA Tour had initially planned on putting Willett and Spieth together for the first two rounds at TPC Sawgrass. That was Spieth’s first start since that Sunday implosion at the Masters, and Feinstein added that some older Tour officials stepped in and nixed the idea. Spieth, last seen understandably stone-faced putting the green jacket on Willett in Butler Cabin, probably wouldn’t have loved his home Tour doing that.

Since The Players, Spieth has teed it up three more times, insisted he’s over that Masters mess, and picked up yet another win. The sting of Willett charging up and taking his second straight green jacket has been relieved a bit, but it would still be a juicy pairing and something the USGA would probably have no issue doing with its defending champion. Also, maybe Spieth and his #SB2K16 buddy Smylie hatch a plan to high-low the Englishman in the first fairway.

No event provokes more screaming and yelling about course conditions and setup than the U.S. Open. It is an annual tradition, usually borne out of the USGA’s commitment to creating the “toughest test in golf.” Some years are worse than others, such as 2004, when the USGA lost a green at Shinnecock and embarrassed themselves with having to spray water in between shots. Last year at Chambers Bay, the gripes peaked more for the awful, unpredictable putting surfaces than some sort of unfair green speeds or brutal setup.

The displeasure with the condition of the course in 2015 was unanimous. Every year there will be a faction of pros speaking out about the “ridiculous” or “borderline unfair” setup and these three above have no problem speaking their mind, letting us know how the field actually feels, and launching grenades at the USGA.

Oakmont is arguably the toughest course in America before the USGA comes in and sets it up, so despite its historic and regal place in the game, there’s going to be drama and complaints. Bubba doesn’t care whether it’s Olympic, Pinehurst, or any other famed venue, he’ll let us know early in the week that he’s probably not a fan of the setup. Sergio may even take his anger beyond just comments and tweets and decide to destroy some nearby broadcast equipment.

Putting Bubba, Sergio and Billy together would be a consolidation of some of the more outspoken and brutal reviewers and intriguing to watch as they go hole-by-hole against this frustrating test.

Three more of the many pros who can run a little hot when the big numbers start to pile up on the scorecard. Stenson is typically gregarious and enjoyable, but no one destroys a club in the middle of a round better than the Swede. Whether it’s slamming the head off his driver or a traditional club snap over the knee, Stenson is an artist when it comes to defacing a his equipment.

While Reed has grown in profile and become more cautious around live mics and cameras, his face visibly lights up as the going gets tougher and he catches a bad bounce or makes a bad shot. Hoffman, a longtime successful pro, has been known to launch his putter in the middle of a lake after an ugly green or two.

They’re not the only ones, of course, and the anger and frustration is understandable and expected during U.S. Open rounds. But a tournament has never been made less entertaining by a player losing his cool and putting three hotheads together could be explosive.

Two of the big money players in the game who have no hesitation to have some side action and one, well, ... self-confident? ... PGA Tour rookie who is up for every challenge. Also, all three are incredible players of varying ages and levels of scar tissue at this event. Until he gets one, Phil will be the most interesting player at the start of every U.S. Open week, and DeChambeau is one of the more gripping and unique rookies we’ve ever seen.

An international trio that represent some of the most entertaining and enjoyable players in golf. Johnston said he was going home to “get hammered” during an interview after his first Euro Tour win.

Aphibarnrat is also known as the “Asian John Daly.” And Lowry, in addition to being one of the best players in the world, never gets too serious.

Three strong players with games that are easy and fun to watch. They may not be the biggest names, but if the USGA puts these three together and you’re on the grounds, you’re going to seek them out and catch a few holes.

The tobacco lobby’s dream.