By DAVID LEGGAT
The last thing Greg Turner wanted was to be part of the Tiger Woods three during the first two days of the New Zealand Open.
He got his wish - but might not be any more happy with the way the dice fell when the draw was announced yesterday.
Turner will play in the threesome immediately before Woods, defending champion David Smail and popular Australian Peter O'Malley.
He is grouped with experienced Australians Jarrod Moseley and Peter Senior, and will be sure to pick up some of the hullaballoo surrounding the Woods trio.
It will be fascinating to see how the huge galleries turning up for Woods' tee-off time of 8.55 am tomorrow spread themselves along the fairways to take in one of New Zealand's finest professionals sharing the same fairways through his round as with the marquee act.
Behind Woods is New Zealand's favourite golfing son, Sir Bob Charles, grouped with another Australian double act, David Podlich and Nathan Green.
Promising amateur Eddie Lee is immediately before Turner's group. All those threesomes are starting from the tenth tee.
New Zealand's world schoolboy champion, Sam Hunt from Rotorua, tees off at 8.40 am from the first tee. He is grouped with American Bob Garza, who played nine holes with Woods yesterday, and New South Welshman Peter Fowler.
The biggest afternoon act comprises New Zealand's only US PGA Tour regular in the Open, Craig Perks, top-ranked New Zealander Michael Campbell (No 29 in the world) and well-performed Australian Craig Parry, who tee off at 1.15 pm.
As for 13-year-old Jae An, who is sure to attract interest, he will play with New Zealander Marcus Wheelhouse and Victorian David Hill at 1.20 pm.
The Kiwi golfer is chasing the LPGA Tour season title and a huge payday.