US Open Leaderboard 2012: Players That Will Challenge for the Lead

Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell are currently tied for first heading into the final round of the 2012 U.S. Open, but look out for players like Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods or even amateur sensation Beau Hossler to challenge for the lead on championship Sunday.

This is when the rubber meets the road and we find out who really wants it. Anybody can play well in the first few days of a tournament. Heck, many golfers can have strong showings on Day 3, but it's the true winners that find a way to play their best golf in the final round, especially at the U.S. Open.

The pressure is going to be on, but I expect these three guys to make a run for the top:

Lee Westwood

I really like what Westwood is doing right now, and he may be playing some of the hottest golf out of anybody in the field. Not only did he shoot a great three-under in Round 3, but he's coming off a win at the Nordea Masters, he tied for third at The Masters and he tied for fifth at the Wells Fargo Championship. Like I said, he's been playing pretty good as of late.

Somehow, despite being ranked No. 3 in the world rankings, Westwood has not yet won a major title. This could be the year, though, as he's talented enough to do it, and he's currently sitting at two-over on the tournament—which has him tied for fourth place and three strokes off the lead heading into the final round.

Tiger Woods

Woods had a very bad third round, hitting his way into six bogeys and just one birdie to finish plus-five on the day and four-over on the tournament. That said, before that abysmal round he was looking very good, so there is a possibility that he returns back to the form he displayed in the first two rounds.

This is still Tiger we are talking about. He has the talent to be the very best golfer in the world on any given day, and we know that he's used to coming up big in huge moments in tournaments.

After his bad day, he's still just five shots back, and one good hole can swing the momentum of this tournament in a big way, especially if the leaders falter under the pressure.

Look out for Tiger.

Beau Hossler

Somehow, someway, a 17-year old amateur golfer that's still in high school has found himself tied for eighth on the leaderboard at the U.S. Open, and there's just one round left.

While winning the whole thing would be an improbable, yet incredible story, the kid has proven that he's worthy of that story by just being in the conversation at this point in the tournament.

He's plus-three right now and has hit a good amount of birdies on the course, so if he can cut out a few bogeys here and there, he has a shot. He's obviously poised enough to play on this big of a stage.

We'll see how he handles the pressure of the final round plus the expectations, but at this point it would be unwise to write Hossler off. I think he's going to challenge for the lead.

You can check out the full 2012 US Open leaderboard here.