THE AUGUSTA HOLY TRINITY

Jon Rahm is looking to join some exalted company because only three players have successfully defended the Masters title in its 87-year existence.

JACK NICKLAUS

- 1965 & 1966 The Golden Bear took Augusta apart in 1965. By the end of the second round, fans were relishing an epic contest with the big three – Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player – in a three-way tied for the lead at six under.

But Nicklaus then hit a 64 followed by a 69 to finish at minus-17 and win by nine shots from his famous opponents. The defence proved more difficult, ending in a three-way tie on even par alongside Gay Brewer and Tommy Jacobs, both of whom he beat over an 18-hole play-off.

NICK FALDO

- 1989 & 1990

Carrying the British flag on from Sandy Lyle’s 1988 win, Faldo was second on day one and tied for the lead at halfway only for a disastrous thirdround 77 to seem to scupper his chances. But from five shots back on the final day, he rallied with a 65 to force a play-off with American Scott Hoch, which he won at the second extra hole.

A year later, Faldo was five shots down at halfway but a superb 66 and then a 69 put him in another play-off, this time with Raymond Floyd of the USA, and again he triumphed on the second extra hole.

TIGER WOODS - 2001 & 2002

Woods arrived at Augusta in 2001 already holding the other three Majors from the previous year and completed the Tiger Slam in style. An opening 70 left him five shots down on day one but he followed that with a 66 and a pair of 68s to see off David Duval by two shots and collect the first seven-figure winner’s cheque in Major golf history.

Twelve months later he repeated the feat, again with an opening 70 before going 69-66 to share the lead with South Africa’s Retief Goosen going into the final day, where Woods held his nerve with a closing 71 and was never threatened by Goosen, who hit 74 and lost by three.