Oosthuizen drawn with Phil

Sandwich - Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen has been drawn to play alongside world number six Phil Mickelson and US PGA champion Martin Kaymer in the first round of the British Open.

Rory McIlroy, the runaway winner of last month's US Open, will form a threeball with 2002 British Open champion Ernie Els and young American prospect Rickie Fowler in Thursday's opening round at the Royal St George's course in Kent.

World number one Luke Donald, winner of the 2011 Scottish Open, has been drawn alongside his former Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.

Lee Westwood, ranked two in the world, will team up with Sunday's John Deere Classic winner Steve Stricker and US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

Oosthuizen was ranked 54th in the world when he won the Open Championship in 2010.