Coastal Carolina University alumnus and former Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson is paired with 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk in the first two rounds of the 94th PGA Championship at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort.

They tee off Thursday at 8:10 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 1:20 p.m. on No. 1.

Defending champion Keegan Bradley, four-time PGA Championship winner Tiger Woods and 2010 PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer are also among the featured groups when play begins Thursday.

They go off Thursday at 8:30 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 1:40 p.m. on No. 1, as pairings in the first two rounds are predetermined. Pairings for the final two rounds are according to score and announced after a cut to the low 70 scores and ties at the conclusion of 36 holes.

The traditional PGA Championship grouping of the winners of the first three major championships of the year brings together Masters champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and British Open champion Ernie Els. They start play Thursday at 1:20 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8:10 a.m. on No. 10.

Some of the other notable groupings in the first two rounds:

• Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter and Steve Stricker – Thursday at 8:40 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 1:50 p.m. on No. 1.

• Lee Westwood, Bill Haas and Angel Cabrera – Thursday at 8:50 a.m. on No. 10 and Friday at 2 p.m. on No. 1.

• Charl Schwartzel, Rickie Fowler and Nicolas Colsaerts – Thursday at 1 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 7:50 a.m. on No. 10.

• Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia – Thursday at 1:10 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8 a.m. on No. 10.

• Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson – Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8:20 a.m. on No. 10.

• Past PGA Championship winners Padraig Harrington (2008), Phil Mickelson (2005) and 2012 United States Ryder Cup Team Captain Davis Love III (1997) – Thursday at 1:40 p.m. on No. 1 and Friday at 8:30 a.m. on No. 10.

PGA of America club professional Kelly Mitchum, a teaching pro at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, will have the distinction of hitting the opening tee shot off the first tee at 7:20 a.m. Thursday. He is the lone representative of the Carolinas PGA among the 20 club professionals in the field.

Contact ALAN BLONDIN at 626-0284.