Furyk, Toms, and Woods Tied for 2012 U.S. Open Lead

Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd during Day 2 of the 2012 U.S. Open (Ben Margot)

No one said winning the U.S. Open would be easy. Olympic Club in San Francisco has been giving the PGA's top golfers all they can handle and than some. Round 2 saw the world's #1 Luke Donald and #2 Rory McIlroy miss the cut. So did Masters champion Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, who was coming off a PGA Tour win last week.

You might me be wondering well who is in the lead. There are three wily, old veterans tied for the lead and who are looking to prove they've still got what it takes to win a major.

After winning the U.S. Open in 2003, Jim Furyk is looking to become the tournament's first multiple winner since Tiger Woods won his third in 2008. Furyk finished Friday's second round early with his 1-under 69. He gained the lead when first round leader Michael Thompson lost his stroke.

2001 PGA champion David Toms is also striving for another major win. Toms remained steady as can be during a straightforward even-par 70 for Friday's second round. His two bogeys on the front nine where remedied for by two birdies on the back nine.

Then, there is Tiger Woods, who is seeking to win his 15th major and to return to the level of greatness he achieved earlier in his career. During Friday's second round, Woods overcame three straight bogeys on the front nine for an even-par 70.

With Furyk, Toms, and Woods tied for the tournament lead at 1-under 139, the rest of the field sits over par. Of course, all of the attention will be on Woods. He is a media magnet and will likely have the support of the crowd on his side. Furyk and Toms have shown calm, veteran demeanors. They have positioned themselves well for making a run to win it all. Another player I would keep an eye on is Graeme McDowell, who remains just two shots off the lead. Two years ago, McDowell won a similarly difficult U.S. Open. I guess you could say he knows how to win ugly in a sense. It will be interesting to keep an eye on these golfers as we watch to see who will win the 2012 U.S. Open.

Hunter Mahan Gets the Chip Off His Shoulder

When the #1 player in world, Luke Donald, got upset in the first round of WGC-Accenture Match Play, all eyes went to the two players who could take over the top spot. Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were those two players. They immediately became the tournament favorites. As expected, the two met in the semifinals. McIlroy beat his rival to earn the spot in the final. The experts had McIlroy as a lock to win, but Hunter Mahan wanted to have a say about that.

Mahan has been infamously known by his botched chip shot on the 17th hole at the 2010 Ryder Cup. He had won other tournaments, but none of it seemed to matter to him. He could be seen publicly breaking down and crying. Mahan finally came to realize that golf meant too much to him. In regards to this, he said, "I didn't want to have my identity stuck with my golf score. They needed to be separated, and I needed to play golf because I enjoyed it and accept the result and move on and not get attached to it."

Mahan had already become one of the best drivers in the sport, but he had long ignored his weakness, chipping. He and his coach Sean Foley set out to change that. It was not an easy project, and it is still a work in progress, but he has improved greatly and is building confidence. He brought that confidence with him to the WGC-Accenture Match Play. He quickly reminded folks that Rory McIlroy isn't the only young budding star when he beat McIlroy in the final. McIlroy is still considered to be the next Tiger Woods of golf. He moved closer to taking over the #1 world ranking, despite finishing second. However, remember the name Hunter Mahan. He is improving his game daily and gaining confidence with every chip shot he takes.