US Open Golf Standings 2012: Final Standings Heading into Round 2

It was a long day at the Olympic Club on Thursday, as the 2012 U.S. Open saw all kinds of different play from the world's best in San Francisco, California.

Not much is clear other than Michael Thompson is leading the field by three strokes at four-under par at the end of Round 1.

Actually, that's not true. Another clear-cut conclusion is that Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson had one of the worst rounds of their careers.

Tiger Woods showed us that he isn't going to turn in a stinker of a tournament this weekend, and defending champion Rory McIlroy met his worst nightmare on Thursday.

Most players in the field found the course extremely challenging on Thursday, as we saw scores as bad as 15-over par. 

Here we'll give you some interesting tidbits and the final standings heading into Round 2 of the 2012 U.S. Open.

Leaders After Round 1

Position	Player	Score
1	Michael Thompson	-4
T2	Graeme McDowell	-1
T2	Nick Watney	-1
T2	Justin Rose	-1
T2	Tiger Woods	-1
T2	David Toms	-1
T7	Jim Furyk	E
T7	Matt Kuchar	E
T7	Ian Poulter	E
T7	Beau Hossler	E
T7	Jae-Bum Park	E
T7	Jason Bohn	E
T7	Robert Karlsson	E
T7	Alistair Presnell	E

Here's a link to the full leader board.

Biggest Surprises

Michael Thompson (-4)

Thompson looked right at home Thursday on the course. Rightfully so, as he's familiar with the Olympic Club from his 2007 runner-up finish at the 2007 Amateur Championship that was held on the course.

He bogeyed three of his first six holes but walked into the clubhouse with seven birdies on the day. Thompson did a great job to collect himself after an uneasy start to finish his first round with a score of 66.

No complaints will be heard form Thompson, who should be elated to be three strokes ahead of the field.

But, really, who expected the 27-year-old from Tucson, Arizona to be out in front after 18 holes?

Phil Mickelson (+6)

My goodness, did Mickelson have an abysmal day on Thursday.

Lefty had a terrible morning, posting seven birdies and just one bogey. His misfortune started when he tried to slip a ball between the trees on a dogleg right. His ball went tearing through the foliage and never came down from its perch in the trees.

Somehow, he managed a bogey on that hole, but it was a worrisome omen for one of the fan favorites on the PGA Tour. 

Rory McIlroy (+7)

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for the defending U.S. Open champion. The par fours gave him the biggest problem on the day. He was able to save par on just six of the 12 par fours.

He didn't drive well, he didn't put on a good show in the mid-range game and he didn't putt to the best of his abilities.

If he wants to have any serious chance to repeat, he'll need a valiant charge in the second round.

Players in Prime Position

Tiger Woods (-1)

Woods showed shades of his 2002 self in the opening round at the Olympic Club. On second thought, he showed a lot more than shades. We almost got Tiger Woods in his prime on Thursday aside from a few less than magical shots.

Tiger has the competition right where he wants it and said this after his round, per Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post:

"

“I felt very pleased with every facet of my game today,” Woods said

"

He's one of five players tied at one under for the tournament and could easily make up the three strokes that Thompson has on him before the weekend is over.

Graeme McDowell (-1)

The 2010 U.S. Open champ finds himself three strokes back of the surprising Thompson.

He knows how to play a major tournament like this, especially on a difficult course. After all, he was able to win in 2010 with an unflattering score of even par.

McDowell has two other top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year and is looking to return to his winning ways this year.

Sleeper Pick: Rickie Fowler (+2)

The golfer who looks like the offspring of Zac Efron and the V for Vendetta mask is my sleeper pick to compete for the U.S. Open title.

Fowler has played some of the best golf out of anybody on the PGA Tour this season. The 23-year-old Florida native finished in the top 10 of his last four tournaments before a 52nd-place finish at Muirfield Village.

I'm not sure quite what it is, but I liked the way Fowler looked today despite his two-over par. 

Predicted Winner: Tiger Woods

Eldrick Tont Woods is my pick to finish atop the field at the Olympic Club. He still had that fire in his eyes left over from his final-round brilliance at the Memorial Tournament.

Before that, it had been a little while since we saw that demeanor from Tiger. I like his chances to win his fourth U.S. Open and 15th major championship.