US Open Favorites 2012: Phil Mickelson and Players Primed to Make Noise

The U.S. Open is usually wide open, and this year is no different.

With that said, there are definitely tournament favorites. Like most majors, the best golfers are ready to play. Whether they're coming off of good performances or not, the best players play their best at the majors.

It'll be important for each of these players to get off to a good start. By doing so, they'll be primed to make a run at the title over the weekend.

These guys are the favorites, and they will be the ones at the top of the leaderboard from start to finish.

Hunter Mahan

Hunter Mahan has had himself quite a year.

He's already won two tournaments. He's made 11 out of 12 cuts. And he's second on this year's money list.

Heading into the U.S. Open, Mahan is fifth on the tour by hitting 70 percent of greens in regulation. If he can continue to get on the green early, he will give himself a great chance of scoring low early and often.

Mahan hasn't finished better than sixth at a major, but he is poised to make a run this year. Don't be surprised if he captures his first major tournament title.

Bubba Watson

Never count out the reigning Masters champion.

Bubba Watson put on a legendary performance at Augusta, and he is just the man that could come up with an encore. After an emotional victory at the Masters, a U.S. Open victory would be even more emotional.

Check out this article from ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski, where he discusses Watson's recent adoption. It will be Watson's first Father's Day as a dad, and a win would be the perfect cherry on top.

He knows that, and he will be sure to have another great weekend.

Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler is just a young gun, but he's ready to make a name for himself at a major.

He has five top-10 finishes this year, and he's ready to add another one to his resume. The 23-year-old is third on the tour in total driving, but his putting is not very consistent.

If Fowler can get hot on the green, he could run away with this tournament. Be sure to keep tabs on his putting, and Fowler could have a memorable weekend.

Jason Dufner

Jason Dufner is having himself a great season.

He's at the top of the money list this year. He's finished in the top two in three of his last four tournaments. And he's only missed the cut once this year.

He finished second at last year's PGA Championship, and that's only because he lost in a playoff after missing a relatively easy birdie putt. If he keeps his focus this year, he could win himself a major.

Dufner's been playing well, and he has a great chance of continuing that at the U.S. Open.

Justin Rose

Justin Rose doesn't have a major victory yet, but this could be the year.

He's made the cut in all 11 of the tournaments he's played in. He's third on the tour in greens hit in regulation. And his five top-10 finishes illustrate how competitive he's been this year.

Rose will have a tough time winning his first major, but he will definitely compete this weekend. If he makes a few big-time shots, he could be in the final pairing on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy

Personally, I don't have much faith in Rory McIlroy.

With that said, you can never count out the defending champion.

McIlroy is a very good player, but he's somewhat of a head case. He's missed a few cuts this year, and he might still need some more time to regroup. However, if he gets off to a hot start, he might be able to ride that momentum to a very good weekend.

Again, I don't have much faith in McIlroy, but I definitely won't count him out.

Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson won the St. Jude Classic last weekend, and he's ready to win for the second weekend in a row.

Obviously, the U.S. Open is slightly different than the St. Jude Classic, but Johnson is still the same player. He's a solid player, and he uses his monster drives to put himself in good positions.

It's tough to win on back-to-back weekends, but it's also a good way to build momentum. If Johnson has a good first two days, he will have loads of confidence heading into the weekend.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is always ready to make some noise.

Regardless of how he plays, Woods will find himself a headline. He's such a huge superstar, and people are just fascinated by his play.

It's been four years since Woods last won a major, and he's looking as good as ever. Woods won the Memorial, and he's ready to follow that up with a win in San Francisco.

You never know what Woods will do, but you do know that you will be watching. Be ready for some big noise from Tiger this weekend.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is always ready to make something happen.

He hasn't won a major in over two years, and he has never won the U.S. Open. With that said, Mickelson is ready to get it done. He has five top-10 finishes this year, and he's putting incredibly well.

Mickelson is a great player, and he's always ready to make things happen. If he gets hot, he will be in contention from start to finish. Don't be surprised if you see him in the final group on Sunday.