US Open Golf 2012: 5 Top Players Who Could Make Big Moves on Friday

The 2012 U.S. Open leaderboard is predictably occupied after one round by some very familiar faces—and some players totally out of nowhere. Little-known Michael Thompson leads the way at four-under par.

A slew of top players quietly prodded along on the first day. Although well back of Thompson in relation to par, that can certainly change for an inexperienced player sleeping on any lead at a major tournament.

It's easy to shoot oneself out of the U.S. Open after the first day. Just ask world No. 1 Luke Donald.

Some dangerous players are still very much alive but simply weren't covered as much on Thursday.

Here are five lurking golfers poised to make a move in Round 2.

Keegan Bradley

Round 1: 73 (+3, seven strokes off the lead)

Official World Golf Ranking: 24

The 2011 PGA champion lost his form at this year's Masters, similar to Gary Woodland.

Since falling off the pace on the weekend at Augusta, Bradley hasn't finished better than a tie for 24th.

A bogey-bogey start at the U.S. Open wouldn't seem to be the proper medicine for Bradley's ailing game.

After the bumps at the beginning, it was a bit of a roller coaster round but only one shot worse in relation to par.

One positive is that Bradley hit 66 percent of greens in regulation, among the best in the field.

If he can continue that level of ball-striking and improve on his 31 putts from Thursday's round, look for Bradley to be in the mix entering the weekend.

Francesco Molinari

Round 1: 71 (+1, five strokes off the lead)

Official World Golf Ranking: 33

Molinari was one of few players to finish the front nine below par, despite starting the championship with a double bogey.

Usually one of the most precise ball-strikers in the world, Molinari only hit eight greens in regulation on Thursday.

What was encouraging, though, was that he found the fairway 12 out of 14 times. Molinari should benefit from a dryer course in the afternoon wave on Friday and get more distance off the tee.

Iron play has been Molinari's biggest strength in recent years, so if he keeps giving himself opportunities from the short grass, he's bound to miss as many greens as he did in the first round.

The 29-year-old Italian has only one top-10 finish in a major but will set himself up for a career-best finish if he can maintain his first day form.

Webb Simpson

Round 1: 72 (+2, six strokes off the lead)

Official World Golf Ranking: 14

A fairly pedestrian-sounding day for Simpson: seven of 14 greens, nine of 18 greens, an average of 14 putts per side.

While unimpressive at most events, this is just the type of steady play the Wake Forest alum needs to contend at The Olympic Club.

Simpson ranked eighth in greens in regulation in his breakout 2011 season, and this year is inside the top 15 in that statistic.

Expect Simpson to strike it a little more crisply on Friday, and if he can continue to manage his mistakes, he could hover right around par. That should by right near the lead heading into the weekend.

Gary Woodland

Round 1: 74 (+4, eight strokes off the lead)

Official World Golf Ranking: 75

Judging from Woodland's current ranking, it would appear his first round score would be expected.

The talented American hits the ball a mile and attained a personal best of No. 36 in the world in 2011 after a tie for fourth at the Greenbrier Classic.

Unfortunately, Woodland got off to a shaky start in 2012, which was compounded by a wrist injury suffered at this year's Masters.

Thursday was the first indication Woodland might be back in the swing of things since being one-under through 36 holes at Augusta.

In a round that served as a microcosm of Woodland's game since his injury, the round started horribly.

At six-over par through eight holes, Woodland birdied the ninth hole and poured in a right-to-left bomb on the 10th for another birdie.

Woodland played the rest of the way in even par and hopes the momentum he generated at the end of Round 1 can carry over.

If that happens, Woodland will enter the weekend conversation for the second major in a row.

Sergio Garcia

Round 1: 73 (+3, seven strokes off the lead)

Official World Golf Ranking: 22

The bad body language. Unlike Jason Dufner, the unwanted waggles. The woe-is-me attitude.

Say what you will about Garcia, but there is no denying that he is one of the elite talents the game has ever seen.

What also cannot be denied is that Garcia is arguably the best of all time from tee to green without a major victory.

After two bogeys to start and three-over total through six holes on Thursday, Garcia might mail it in at another of golf's biggest tournaments.

Garcia had other plans. He righted the ship and played par golf all the way to the clubhouse.

I find it difficult to question Garcia's drive to succeed. After such high expectations, and failing to meet them time and time again, he keeps coming back for more.

Maybe he doesn't have any alternative, but maybe that means he should get more credit than he deserves.

Regardless, if Garcia continues to tough it out as he has at the start, he has all the ability to post a great score on Friday.

Who knows: If that's the case, he may finally have his big breakthrough on Sunday.