Woods set to launch major bid at sunny Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania, June 14 (Reuters) Twice champion Tiger Woods prepared to launch his bid for a third major title in four starts as the 107th US Open began under clear skies at Oakmont Country Club today.

Woods, winner of last year's British Open at Hoylake and the PGA Championship at Medinah the following month, was scheduled to tee off on the first hole at 1736 hrs.

The American world number one has been grouped with defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and US amateur champion Richie Ramsay of Britain for the first two rounds.

Three-times major winner Phil Mickelson, who has been battling a wrist injury for the last two weeks, has the opposite schedule.

The American left-hander starts on the 10th hole at 1336 with compatriot Jim Furyk, winner of the 2003 US Open at Olympia Fields, and world number four Adam Scott of Australia.

Other notable threesomes include South African Ernie Els, Masters champion Zach Johnson of the U.S. and Irishman Padraig Harrington; Vijay Singh of Fiji, American Davis Love III and Henrik Stenson of Sweden; and KJ Choi of South Korea, American David Toms and Canadian Mike Weir.

Twice champion Retief Goosen of South Africa was scheduled to tee off on the opening hole two groups after Woods with Luke Donald of Britain and Argentina's Angel Cabrera.

The first shot of the tournament was struck by American journeyman Ken Duke, who missed the cut in his only other US Open appearance at Bethpage Black in 2002.

Playing with fellow American Johnson Wagner and Sam Walker of Britain, Duke pulled his tee shot into the left rough on the par-four opening hole.

Just under half-an-inch of rain fell at Oakmont on Wednesday, softening greens and fairways that had firmed up under scorching sunshine earlier in the week. Clear weather is expected for the rest of the tournament.

REUTERS TB BD1724