US Open Golf Scores 2012: Golfers Who Will Charge Up Leaderboard on Final Day

Just two players sit under par through three days at the U.S. Open. Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk are tied atop the leaderboard at one under par.

They will have to fend off players such as Lee Westwood, Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, who are each within five strokes of the lead. They will also have to look out for some under-the-radar players that are sure to make major charges up the leaderboard.

In every major tournament, there is a player or two who will furiously climb up the leaderboard and become a contender on Sunday.

For a player to come out of nowhere and make such a run, he must have the talent to put together an outstanding round on a very difficult course.

There are a few players that currently stand five or more shots behind the two leaders that have an opportunity to battle their way into contention.

Going into Sunday, Adam Scott stands seven shots behind the leaders at six over par. After an opening round 76 that seemingly destroyed any hopes of him challenging in the tournament, Scott has put together two very good rounds at even par.

Scott has greatly improved his play over the last two rounds. He seems to have figured out what he needs to do in order to be successful at the tournament.

If Scott can continue his solid play over the past few rounds and make some big putts to shoot between a 65 and 67, he will find himself battling for the U.S. Open championship.  

Justin Rose is another player with the ability to make a giant leap on Sunday. Rose shot a spectacular opening round 69, but his performance has dropped ever since and he is currently six shots off the lead at five over par.

Rose had one poor round, shooting a 75 on Friday. Besides the lone hiccup, Rose has played very well and certainly has the ability to put together an impressive Sunday performance.

If a player wants to make a big comeback on Sunday, he needs to hit greens and put himself in position to make birdie putts.

Thus far in the tournament, Rose ranks first in greens in regulation, as he is hitting the green 70.37 percent of the time.  

If Rose can keep hitting greens and start converting putts, he will put himself in great position to contend late on Sunday.

The final player who has a shot at making a comeback on Sunday is Jonathan Byrd.

Most casual golf fans have little knowledge of Byrd, and those that do know him may think it’s farfetched that he could make such a run in a major tournament.

Byrd currently sits eight shots off the lead at seven over par. For him to make a run atop the leaderboard would be miraculous.

 However, Byrd has the ability to put together an outstanding round.

If Byrd is going to come up big on Sunday, he will have to make a lot of birdies. Byrd ranks third in the tournament in birdies made with 10, and his six birdies on Saturday tied for the most in the round.

Byrd has a chance at shooting a 65 if he can continue making birdies and avoid bogeys. If he does this, he will be the player that turns heads on Sunday.

Sunday at a major tournament is one of the best days in all of sports. The pressure that is on the golfers combined with the overall theatrics of the day almost always leads to a thrilling finish.

If history tells us anything, a spectacular run is coming from a player far down the leaderboard. Based on a variety of factors, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Jonathon Byrd are the three dark horses with an opportunity to contend on Sunday.