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The Masters 2024: Sir Nick Faldo questions Jon Rahm's hopes of defending Green Jacket at Augusta National

Jon Rahm can join Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as a back-to-back winner of The Masters; Rahm claimed a four-shot victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson in last year's contest; Spaniard is one of 13 LIV Golf League players in action at Augusta National

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Sir Nick Faldo says Jon Rahm will have to step up the intensity of his play if he is to be in with a chance of defending his Masters title.

Sir Nick Faldo has questioned whether Jon Rahm will have the intensity to join an illustrious club and successfully defend his title at The Masters this week.

Rahm became the fourth Spanish winner in Masters history with his victory last April, when a final-round 69 saw him finish four shots ahead of Brooks Koepka and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson.

Koepka went on to win the PGA Championship a month later, with all three players now featuring in the LIV Golf League after Rahm made the switch from the PGA Tour ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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A look back at the best of the action from Jon Rahm's winning round at The Masters last April, where a final-round 69 was enough to earn a four-shot victory

Rahm last featured on the PGA Tour at August's Tour Championship and hasn't played on the DP World Tour since the DP World Tour Championship in November, with Faldo wondering whether the lack of 72-hole preparation will hamper the former world No 1's chances.

"I think he feels that [lack of intensity]," Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. "I know that he made comments about watching Riviera [Genesis Invitational] and thought he wished he was there.

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"I thought The Players was good and I bet he wished he was in there. He has been playing resort courses in shorts for the past couple of months and hasn't really been tested yet.

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"He's a hell of a player, but he's going to have to make a little bit of effort to step it up and get the right intensity. Whether coming into defend you can do it, or whether he's just not quite sharp enough because he hasn't tested himself quite as much, we'll have to wait and see.

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Highlights from the final round of the 2023 Masters at Augusta National, where Jon Rahm claimed his second major victory

"I wish him all the best but I hope the [back-to-back winners] club stays at three!"

Is Scheffler really the favourite?

Scottie Scheffler is the overwhelming favourite to win The Masters for a second time in three years, having extended his advantage at the top of the world rankings with victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players last month.

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Nick Dougherty believes Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy will all be competing to wear the Green Jacket in Augusta and hopes McIlroy can complete a career grand slam to write his name in history.

Scheffler also finished runner-up at the Texas Children's Houston Open in his last start, although Faldo remains unconvinced that the world No 1 will go on to win the Green Jacket this week.

"Everyone's screaming that he [Scheffler] is the favourite, but I'm not so sure," Faldo added. "He has got to deal with that, and a lot of things have got to go right.

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Sir Nick Faldo believes Scottie Scheffler's attitude to golf is what sets him apart from his rivals. Listen to the full interview on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast from 6am on Monday.

"I think it's just a mental thing, as everyone gets hyped up at majors. If you're good enough to take the majors down a couple of notches, so you're back to normal, I think that that's what he can do. I think that's his main strength.

"I was looking at stats and I've got a feeling it could be a 'second-tier' guy [who wins]. You've got a dozen or so obvious names and then I think it could be a person from outside of that - someone playing well enough. But it's a whole new world trying to win your first Green Jacket."

The Masters - Live

What else is on the podcast?

Faldo joins regular host Josh Antmann to reflect on his three Masters victories, including his dramatic play-off success over Scott Hoch in 1989 for the first of successive titles at Augusta National.

The six-time major champion looks at Rory McIlroy's chances of completing the Grand Slam and what he has struggled with in his game so far this season on the PGA Tour, plus discusses some of the potential contenders for a surprise major success at The Masters.

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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Sir Nick Faldo says Rory McIlroy should focus on practicing with his irons if he is to have a chance of winning the Masters.

Download and listen to the latest Sky Sports Golf podcast and don't forget to subscribe via Spotify, Spreaker or Apple Podcasts! If you'd like to contact the podcast, then you can email at golf@skysports.com.

When is The Masters on Sky Sports?

Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm over the first two rounds on Thursday April 11 and Friday April 12, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available to enjoy on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 8pm.

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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Gary Murphy and Richard McEvoy believe lower expectations could help Rory McIlroy at The Masters.

There will be lots of extra action throughout all four days via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, along with Sky Q and Sky Glass, providing plenty of bonus feeds and allowing you to follow players' progress through various parts of Augusta's famous layout.

The notorious Amen Corner stream will also be available and focuses on the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th, while a feed of the fourth, fifth and sixth holes will go live each day as soon as the opening group reach that part of the course.

The Masters - Live

Another stream covering the 15th and 16th hole is also available for every round, while extended coverage of the weekend action begins at both 3pm on both Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14.

Sky Sports Golf will show build-up content and occasional live updates from the course before the global broadcast window starts at 8pm for the third round and 7pm for the final day, with early action available throughout via the red button.

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