US Open Golf 2012 Leaderboard: Leaders Who Will Be in Contention on Day 4

Plenty of random names popped up on the leaderboard on Day 1 of the 2012 US Open, but the key is being in contention on Day 4.

While some golfers are sure to fall out of the top 10, there are a select few who have a shot at riding their Day 1 score until Sunday.

Here's a look at three golfers who started out strong and have a legitimate shot at capturing the 2012 US Open.

Graeme McDowell

Graeme McDowell has just two top-10 finishes in nine PGA Tour events this year, but he finished a respectable 12th at the Masters and he won the US Open in 2010.

He ranks first in driving accuracy this season on the PGA Tour and 16th in putting per hole. McDowell has already shown he has the ability to rise the occasion, regardless of of how he's playing before a major. 

Jim Furyk

Jim Furyk may be 42 years old, but he still has plenty of golf left in him. Furyk placed 11th at the Masters, fourth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and 13th at the Memorial leading up to the US Open.

Furyk started out strong on Thursday, with a nice birdie putt on the sixth hole. He has the experience and momentum to make a run at his second career US Open title.

Tiger Woods

How Tiger got his groove back. 

Tiger Woods is all of a sudden resembling the Tiger of yore. After winning the Memorial behind a 50-foot chip shot, Woods looked good on Thursday, finishing with a one-under-par 69. He had three birdies on the day and showed the consistency he had been lacking until the Memorial.

Woods has rediscovered his game, and he's once again making some rousing shots. If he keeps playing like this, he may start instilling fear in his opponents like the good ol' days.

Follow me on Twitter. We can talk about golf together.