US Open 2012 Pairings: Notable Combos on Final Day at Olympic Club

Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk will be the last pairing to tee off on the final day of the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, but they aren't the only group that's worth watching on Sunday.

After three rounds, the leaderboard is loaded with some of the top names in golf. Only two men finished in red figures on Saturday, though. And if the last few days have taught us anything, it's that there isn't likely to be anyone under par by the time all the competitors are finished late Sunday afternoon.

Let's take a look at the leaderboard.

Position	Player	Today	Total
T1	Graeme McDowell	-2	-1
T1	Jim Furyk	E	-1
3	Fredrik Jacobson	-2	+1
T4	Lee Westwood	-3	+2
T4	Ernie Els	-2	+2
T4	Blake Adams	E	+2
T4	Nicolas Colsaerts	+1	+2
T8	Webb Simpson	-2	+3
T8	Kevin Chappell	-2	+3
T8	John Senden	-2	+3
T8	Beau Hossler	E	+3
T8	Jason Dufner	E	+3
T8	John Peterson	+2	+3

Now, here are the pairings that intrigue me the most.

Casey Wittenberg and Tiger Woods Tee Off at 1:50 p.m. PDT

Obviously, I'm curious to know how Wittenberg finishes this tournament...just kidding. The entire world will be watching this group for one reason: Tiger Woods.

Woods performed at a high level for two rounds and then completely bombed in his third round. He couldn't hit the ball off the tee, couldn't get his distances right with his irons and couldn't hit a putt. It was not pretty.

That being said, Woods is only five shots off the lead after three rounds at four over par. He isn't out of this tournament just yet, and I'll be glued to the TV to find out if he's capable of coming back to claim major championship No. 15.

Jason Dufner and Beau Hossler Tee Off at 2:20 p.m. PDT

Dufner was someone I thought could have a good tournament after his remarkable season, and so far, he hasn't disappointed. After three rounds, he is only four shots off the lead at three over par. 

He'll be joined by 17-year-old amateur sensation Hossler, who has played better than most of the field so far and shot a gutsy even par round of 70 on Saturday. Hossler has looked as cool as the other side of the pillow battling the course and the crowds so far in this tournament, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could win with another solid performance.

Both of these young golfers have the game to put together a low round on Sunday. 

Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk Tee Off at 3:10 p.m. PDT

Both of these men are dialed in right now. They have handled the brutal course better than anyone else, and they are the only golfers in the entire field who have managed to finish three rounds under par.

They will have the weight of the world on their shoulders as the final pairing on Sunday, and as we've witnessed countless times in the past, that pressure can break the best golfers in the world.

It will be fascinating to see how well they deal with the course, the fans and their own emotions as they contend for the chance to hoist the U.S. Open trophy at the end of their round on Sunday evening.

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