Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, Matthew Fitzpatrick to kick off US Masters

Defending champion Adam Scott will reportedly join current PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and British golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick for the first two rounds of the 78th US Masters in groups announced.

Although Scott, who last year became the first Australian to win at Augusta National when he captured his first major title, is traditionally joined by the reigning US Amateur champion, who is Fitzpatrick, however, this time he would be joined by American Dufner.

According to Sport24, the trio will tee off on Thursday morning with two-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who will be joined by first-time Masters participants and Americans Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, in the group directly behind them.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Tim Clark will be teeing off in the opening pairing along with Stewart Cink, adding that the opening round's last few groups also feature some prime contenders, with Jason Day joined by Sweden's Henrik Stenson and American Dustin Johnson.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, Britain's Luke Donald and American Bubba Watson, the 2012 Masters winner, are in the next group, while Swede Peter Hanson, American Keegan Bradley and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson are two groups behind them.

Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson will join South African Ernie Els and reigning US Open champion Justin Rose in the penultimate group Thursday, the report added.