The Masters 2024: Jon Rahm bidding for rare Augusta repeat

Jon Rahm returns to Augusta National for the defence of his Masters title with the chance to become only the tournament’s fourth back-to-back winner.

The Spaniard is bidding to emulate Tiger Woods, who was the last player to do so more than two decades ago in 2002, along with Sir Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Jack Nicklaus (1965-66) in realising the rare feat.

World Number Three Rahm claimed his second Major Championship 12 months ago with a four-stroke victory, on what would have been the 66th birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros.

It also came 40 years on from his hero’s second win at the famed Georgia venue as he became the fourth Spanish player to win the Masters.

Victory again this week would see him emulate Ballesteros and fellow countryman José María Olazábal as two-time winners.

"Winning is winning, right," Rahm told the media at his pre-tournament press conference. "But it would be quite special to be one of the few players that have won it more than once and be able to have it at home for more than one year."

Rahm, 29, won his maiden Major at the U.S. Open in 2021 but he insists his victory at Augusta stands above all his other achievements in the game due to its global appeal.

"It is the biggest tournament in the world, with no offense to anything else, but it's probably the most followed one by people that don't even play golf," he said.

"That's I think what makes the difference. Your notoriety goes up quite a bit. But it's also the tradition.

"By being the only venue, we keep coming back year after year, all the traditions, all the shots, all the stories make it so, so special.

"In my case, last year being Seve's birthday, Easter, and all the many coincidences that happened to happen on that Sunday is what made it so special."

Rahm, the former World Number One, is among golf’s biggest stars and in Spanish sport.

As a result, he is hopeful he can continue to help grow the sport as Ballesteros did before him.

"I've said it many times, one of the great things about Seve in Spain is how much he grew the game in Spain," he said.

"When he started playing golf, there was, I think, 15,000 licensed golfers in Spain. And by the time he passed away, there was over 300,000.

"So however I can influence that to increase and have more playing opportunities in Spain and more people involved in the game, in this wonderful game we all love, I think that would be a success in my mind, however that looks like."

As is tradition, Rahm will join fellow past winners in Augusta National's clubhouse later on Tuesday for a celebratory meal.

Hailing from the Basque country, his Champions Dinner menu reflects the food of the region and he is looking forward to the occasion, despite the “quite daunting” prospect of making a speech.

"I mean, it's basically all the living legends in this game, active and non-active," he said.

"Everybody who's been somebody in this game is there. So as wonderful as it is to be a part of, it's still a little nerve-wracking for sure."