CHASKA - Tiger Woods will play alongside defending champion Padraig Harrington and Rich Beem, who denied him a 2002 triumph here at Hazeltine, on the first two days of the 91st PGA Championship.

Pairings revealed Friday by the PGA of America put world number one Woods, seeking his 15th major title as he chases the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, with Ireland's Harrington for a second major this year after the US Open.

Woods will also be reminded of his near-miss at Hazeltine in 2002 when he birdied the final four holes but still finished one stroke behind unheralded American Beem, who denied Woods his first come-from-behind major victory.

The trio have a morning start off the 10th tee in Thursday's opening roundf and an afternoon start off the first tee the following day.

The year's final major kept with tradition and paired the three 2009 major champions - Masters winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Americans Lucas Glover, the US Open champion, and Stewart Cink, the British Open champion.

They have an afternoon first tee start Thursday and a morning 10th tee start Friday.

Phil Mickelson, who returned to the PGA Tour this week after a break while his wife and mother underwent breast cancer treatments, was matched alongside fellow Americans Paul Azinger and David Toms. All three have won the event.

Azinger has also overcome cancer to resume a golf career.