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Montgomerie to hit opening shot at Royal Troon

Associated Press
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ILE - In this June 3, 2016, file photo, Jason Day, of Australia, tees off on the 14th hole during the second round of the Memorial golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio. The British Open is scheduled for July 14–17, 2016, at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this July 18, 1982, file photo, Tom Watson kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Ayrshire, Scotland. The British Open is scheduled for July 14–17, 2016, at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. (AP Photo/File) (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this July 20, 1987, file photo, Justin Leonard gives a thumbs-up to the gallery as he walks along the 18th fairway with his caddie in the 126th British Open golf Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland. The British Open is scheduled for July 14–17, 2016, at Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. (AP Photo/Ian Stewart, File) (The Associated Press)

The latest from the British Open (all times local to Scotland):

12:30 p.m.

Colin Montgomerie gets to hit the opening tee shot at Royal Troon in what likely will be his final British Open.

Montgomerie's father was a longtime secretary at Royal Troon, so this effectively is his home course on the Open rotation. The 53-year-old Scot went through final local qualifying to make it back to golf's oldest championship.

Montgomerie will be joined in the first group at 6:35 a.m. Thursday with Luke Donald and Marc Leishman, who lost in a playoff at St. Andrews last year.

Jason Day, the world's No. 1 player, has been drawn with Rickie Fowler and Masters champion Danny Willett.

U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson plays with Martin Kaymer and Russell Knox.

Jordan Spieth is with Justin Rose and Shane Lowry.

Rory McIlroy is with Bubba Watson and Hideki Matsuyama.