Tiger Woods at Masters: Golfers with Best Chance of Beating Woods at Augusta

Tiger Woods sent shock waves throughout golf with his Arnold Palmer Invitational victory on Sunday. It was a clear message to the world's top golfers that they won't only have to conquer Augusta to win this year's green jacket, but they'll have to find a way to beat him as well.

Let's take a look at three stars with the best chance of ending Woods' momentum before it has a chance to pick up any more steam.

Rory McIlroy

Even though McIlroy's reign atop the rankings was short, there isn't a golfer more equipped to stare down Woods on Sunday. He's on the cusp of his own run of greatness and just needs to find a little more consistency in his game to make it happen.

Assuming that both guys are able to stay healthy, the next two or three years are setting up to be a terrific battle between Woods and McIlroy for superiority. The budding rivalry will add more intrigue to the major tournaments, starting at Augusta.

McIlroy appeared ready to claim his first Masters title last season before a final-round meltdown of epic proportions. If he can get those negative memories out of his mind, he'll be right there going down the stretch.

Luke Donald

Most casual golf fans probably couldn't tell you Donald is the world's top-ranked player. That's because the Englishman has never finished better than third in a major despite plenty of success in other tournaments around the globe.

He's due for a breakthrough on a big stage, and Augusta is setting up perfectly for him. The talk will be dominated by Woods, who will be seeking his first major since 2008, and McIlroy. That will allow Donald to avoid most of the pressure.

The most important thing for him will be to start quickly. A slow start will only lead to more frustration, causing his game to spiral out of control. Should Donald sink a couple early birdies, don't be surprised if he emerges from the background to contend.

Phil Mickelson

It's been a season of streaks for Mickelson. After a slow start, he picked up a win at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and finished second in the Northern Trust Open. He's since had a few more lackluster results.

The three-time Masters champion will tee it up in the Shell Houston Open as one final tune-up for Augusta. Based on his past success at the storied course, it's impossible to count him out. His game is a perfect fit for the course.

Look for him to take his usual fair share of risky shots throughout the weekend. As long as he's able to avoid disaster on those select holes where he gets into trouble, the veteran will be in the mix once again.