Augusta National officials are intent on quickly testing Rory McIlroy’s stature after grouping him with Angel Cabrera and Bubba Watson for the opening day of the 2012 Masters.

McIlroy played the final round of last year’s Masters in the company of Cabrera.

McIlroy went into the last day leading Cabrera, and the 2009 Augusta winner by four shots but lost out by 10 to winner Charl Schwartzel and five to Cabrera.

Making up the threeball is American lefty Bubba Watson with the trio out in the second last group at 1.42pm local time Thursday.

Four time Masters winner, Tiger Woods is grouped with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Korean Sang-Moon Bae.

Padraig Harrington will lead out the four Irish at 8.56am in the company of Steve Stricker and fellow Open champion, Stewart Cink.

Graeme McDowells joins Louis Oosthuizen and American Mark Wilson on the first tee at 11.41am while Darren Clarke makes his first return to Augusta in five years partnering former Masters winner Darren Clarke and Japan heart throb Ryo Ishikawa at 1.20pm.

In other groupings former Masters winner Trevor Immelman will play in the company of Rickie Fowler and England’s in-form Justin Rose.

And World No. 3 Lee Westwood, and looking for a first Major success, will partner Major champions Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk.

Meantime –

Dustin Johnson is a late withdrawal and citing an injury in not contesting this year’s Masters.

It means 96 players will tee up in the 76th Masters and with the golfing great trio of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player acting as ceremonial starters at  7.40am.