BMW Championship 2012: Brightest Stars Who Will Shine Sunday

If the third round was any indication, the top names in golf will be finishing off the 2012 BMW Championship.

Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson compromise the final group at Crooked Nest, with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood among others right in front of them.

Talk about a star-studded group. TV network executives must’ve been praying all Saturday for that lineup. At worst, a Mickelson, Woods or McIlroy figure to be in contention on the back nine.

Which of the game’s most recognizable names will have major days in the final round? Hint: the major players will be involved.

Phil Mickelson

He ''clawed'' his way to the top of the leaderboard Saturday with his claw-putter grip. Lefty played his best golf, finishing with a 64 to guarantee him a spot in the final group with Singh.

In what was considered a temporary move to try to improve his putting, Mickelson’s claw grip is for real, Lefty knocked in 10 birdies, including one on the 18^th hole that capped a superb afternoon.

Mickelson now has the momentum heading into Sunday. When in doubt, go with the hot hand.

Tiger Woods

I’ve been on the Wood’s bandwagon all weekend. No knee injury is going to make me jump ship now.

Woods looked to have re-injured his knee early in his round Saturday. But he shook off the pain to score three-under on the back nine.

That type of determination has not been typical of Woods recently. When he has started to lose his swing, he has normally unraveled.

Not on this Moving Day. Tiger is one shot behind Singh for the lead and tied with rival Rory McIlroy.

Woods finally has finished a third round unscathed and within striking distance of the leaders. As long as those Crooked Stick fairways stay damp, he can keep taking chances with the driver and hack away.

Eldrick Woods has the look of a confident golfer. It will translate to the course on Sunday.

Lee Westwood

Mr. Consistency loves to hang around the leaderboard. If the BMW leaders take a tumble, Westwood will be there to pick up the lead.

The Englishman lurks one stroke behind Mickelson and Singh, paired with McIrloy in the second-to-last group of the day.

His Moving Day started off very Westwood-like, with nine straight pars and not much to write home about. He excelled on the back nine, though, with five birdies to put him back into contention.

It may not be a major, but that plays in Westwood’s favor. Less pressure on the Englishman will only help him stay in contention.