Luke Donald and Lee Westwood in same group at US Open

The world's top two, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, are in the same group for the first two rounds of the US Open.

The English duo are joined by world number three, and another former number one, Martin Kaymer of Germany.

It is the first time the US Open has put the top three together since 2008, when Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott were in the same group.

The second major of the year begins on Thursday, 16 June, at the Congressional County Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Donald, 33, beat his Ryder Cup team-mate Westwood in a play-off at the PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, and by doing so took the number-one spot from the 38-year-old.

Meanwhile, defending US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland is in the same group as Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and United States Amateur winner Peter Uihlein.

World number five Phil Mickelson, who has yet to win this particular major, has been grouped with fellow American Dustin Johnson and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy led the Masters in April by four shots entering the final day but a horrendous closing round of 80 ended his hopes of a first major title.

The opening two days will also see the three Italians in the field - 18-year-old Matteo Manassero and Ryder Cup brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari - partner each other.

Three Spaniards - Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros - will also play together, as will Swedes Fredrik Jacobson, Henrik Stenson and Johan Edfors.

Three-time champion Woods is not playing the tournament because of his lingering leg injuries.