McIlroy, Rahm, Rose headline pairings at this week's Open Championship in England

Rory McIlroy has been paired with Masters champion John Rahm and former world No. 1 golfer Justin Rose in the first two rounds of the 151st Open Championship in Hoylake, England.

McIlroy, who comes to Royal Liverpool Golf Club off a scintillating win at the Scottish Open, is bidding to win his second Claret Jug.

The 34-year-old from Northern Ireland will join Rahm and Rose in teeing off at 9:59 a.m. ET Thursday and 4:58 a.m. in Friday's second round.

McIlroy expressed confidence in his game heading into The Open.

"I think regardless of whether I won or not [this past weekend], I would have come in here confident with the way I've played over the last sort of month and a half," McIlroy said Tuesday.

"My game feels like it's in good shape, but I think seeing the way I played last week and being able to control my ball in pretty difficult conditions, and I feel good about that coming into this week."

McIlroy was then asked if the memories of his victory at The Open in 2014 will serve as inspiration for this week's tournament.

"A little bit. Maybe not as much as you would think. Over the past nine years a lot has happened in my life, and I've played a lot of golf tournaments," he said. "But yeah, there's a few things that I remember, and it's nice to get back on to the golf course and sort of refamiliarize myself with it."

Defending Open Championship winner Cameron Smith is linked with U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele in a pairing. That group tees off at 4:58 a.m. ET Thursday and 9:59 a.m. Friday.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shares the tee with Tommy Fleetwood of England and Adam Scott of Australia at 4:47 a.m. ET Thursday and 9:48 a.m. Friday.

Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick of England and Jason Day