US Open Golf 2012 Leaderboard: Day 1 Update on Most Intriguing Pairings

The morning groups are out in full force now at the 2012 U.S. Open, including some of the most interesting pairings of the first two rounds. Getting off to a good start is essential in major tournaments, especially on the tough Lake Course at the Olympic Club.

Let's take a look at some of the most noteworthy groups that went out early in the day and examine how each of the players has been performing so far.

For a complete look at the updated leaderboard to see which golfers are on the move, click here.

Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington and David Toms

The trio of wily veterans has been playing OK in Round 1, led by Toms at two-under. He started off his round with a birdie, just like everybody in the clubhouse draws it up, and has played a lot of smart, safe shots since. He has also made a couple nice saves.

Toms is followed by Love at two-over par. He's been struggling with his accuracy throughout the season, but has been able to remain in control throughout the round. He did finish third last week, so perhaps he's rounding into form.

Normally, a player who has been able to knock in three birdies so early would be near the top of the leaderboard. But inconsistency has hurt Harrington today. A couple over double bogeys have dropped him to three-over par.

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Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson

Only one player in the most talked-about group of the tournament has lived up to the hype: Tiger Woods. He's been locked in all day, aside from one shaky putt on a birdie attempt, and currently sits at one-under, two strokes behind the leader.

Mickelson hasn't been able to match his longtime rival, sitting at six-over par. As always, the four-time major winner has taken his fair share of risks throughout the round, and they just haven't paid off. He's going to need a strong Friday to get back in the mix.

Things are even worse for Watson, who hasn't looked comfortable even since a bogey on the first hole of the day and sits at plus-eight. He has looked like a completely different player compared to the one who won at Augusta a couple months ago.

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Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson

It's been a nondescript start for this group, which features three players who all should be viewed as sleepers. Scott has been the biggest disappointment of the pairing so far, standing at five-over par due to five bogeys on par-fours.

Simpson hasn't been able to take advantage of his strong putting skills yet, as he sits at two strokes over par. He needs to start giving himself better looks at birdie, especially on the par-fours, if he's going to move back up the board.

After starting with two straight bogeys, Bradley has calmed things down to play one over since then. It's a good sign that he was able to stop the bleeding so quickly. If he can sink a couple putts down the stretch, he'll be right back where he wants to be after Round 1.

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