Jon Rahm has closed the book on his disappointing 2024 major season as he goes in search of his second Green Jacket at the Masters this week.

Rahm finished four shots clear of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson to win the Masters in 2023, claiming his second major title after triumphing at the U.S. Open two years earlier.

But the Spaniard struggled for form at golf's biggest tournaments last year. He found himself embroiled in a battle to make the cut at Augusta National 12 months ago, eventually finishing tied for 45th at nine over par.

He then missed the cut at the PGA Championship and was forced to skip the U.S. Open with injury, though he bounced back with an improved T7 finish at the Open.

Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference in Georgia on Tuesday, Rahm explained that he likes to wipe the slate clean ahead of every new season.

"I like keeping it fresh instead of just saying I want to win X amount of things in the next five years," Rahm told reporters.

"I feel like I perform better, I go with a clearer mindset to face the year, if I do that exercise of closing the page on the year before and starting a new one for the following year."

For the reigning champion, the pressure of competing in the Masters Tournament extends to Champions Dinner menu decisions. #themasters pic.twitter.com/9eotAv25WS

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2025

Rahm, who has made the top 10 at his last 10 LIV Golf events, winning twice, feels a couple of frustrating major outings led to an unfair perception of his form last year.

"It was not my favourite major season last year," Rahm said.

"I think last year, the state of my game was being unfairly judged based on how I played here and at the PGA, compared to how I really played throughout the whole year. 

"While I understand why, I don't think it was the fairest state of my game. I feel like I'm playing much better golf coming into this week."

Last year, Rahm became the latest in a long line of Masters champions to fail to defend their title. Tiger Woods was the last player to win the tournament in two successive years, doing so in 2001 and 2002.

"Last year was tough because it was the first major after joining LIV and I was also defending, so there was a lot going on that week," Rahm reflected. 

"A lot of new things... a new locker room, having the champions' dinner. It was a lot to adjust to. I think a lot of it was more internal in my case than external."