Masters 2012: Hottest Players Entering Weekend at Augusta

Easter weekend at Augusta is quickly setting up to give us one of the more memorable Masters.

It will be tough to top last year's performance, but all the big names are out and some of the sports most popular young guns are on fire.

The green jacket is arguably the most recognizable award in the entire sport and the tournament almost never fails to impress.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, who has missed the cut in each of his last two events, better watch his back because these players are coming in scorching hot.

Hunter Mahan

The current FedEx Cup points leaders has already won twice this year, including a win last week at the Shell Houston Open.

He also failed to make the cut at Augusta last year after posting two top-10 finishes the previous two years.

Mahan is not only playing great right now, but he has redemption on his side as well.

Tigers Woods

Tiger's last win at Augusta was in 2005, but he's finished in the top six every year since. He's always a threat at the Masters and this year comes in off a big win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Bovada currently lists him as the odds-on favorite at 9-2 and there is no denying that he's started to show some of that old swagger of his. Along with his win last week, he made a charge to come in second at the Honda Classic early last month.

It appears Tiger is getting better...

Rory McIlroy

Like Tiger and Hunter, Rory also has a win under his belt this year (the Honda Classic in which Tiger finished second) and has yet to finish outside of third place on any tour event this year.

He's only played three times, but he's been good-to-great in each outing and we know what he's capable of at Augusta.

Look for Rory to use last year as motivation and it certainly wouldn't surprise anybody to see him back in contention on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.