Defending U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell will begin his 2011 U.S. Open very early. McDowell will tee off at Congressional Country Club at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, and will be joined by amateur champion Peter  Uihlein and British champion Louis Oosthuizen. The group will start on the first hole Thursday and the 10th hole Friday.

It's tradition for the defending champion to be paired with the amateur champion and the British champion, so that will continue here. McDowell won the 2010 U.S. Open by shooting even par through four rounds to finish one stroke up on Gregory Havret and two strokes up on Ernie Els. He got the win despite shooting three-over par on the final day, as his work earlier in the tournament ended up being enough. He is currently ranked No. 8 overall in the most recent world rankings.

A full list of tee times can be found here.