Jon Rahm is full of confidence ahead of this year's Masters Tournament as he seeks to achieve history as the fourth Spaniard to win at Augusta National.
He is looking to follow in the footsteps of the great Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia in claiming the Green Jacket at the 84th edition of the Masters.
This year marks 40 years since Ballesteros won his maiden title at Augusta - the first of two Masters crowns - while Olazábal's two Major Championship victories came at this event in 1994 and 1999.
Garcia completed the elite list of former Spanish winners when he came through a play-off against Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in 2017.
Garcia will miss the event for the first time in 21 years after testing positive for coronavirus on Sunday afternoon, and Rahm aims to make his compatriot and country proud by securing victory on Sunday.
"It would mean a lot," Rahm said.
"Needless to say, it's a special event for everybody who comes and competes at the Masters, and I would say there's such Spanish history of champions here, with three great champions and three idols of mine, that I would love to be able to add my name to that list.
"And especially this year, being a little bit sad that Sergio is not going to be able to be part of this. My heart goes out to him. Knowing how special this week is for him, hoping a speedy recovery for him.
"I think this is the 40th anniversary of Seve's first win here at Augusta. You have Ollie, five green jackets go out to Spain, hopefully I can be the sixth."
The World Number Two - who briefly reached the Official World Golf Ranking summit in July - arrives at the Masters on the back of a second place finish at the Zozo Championship in California.
He also boats an impressive Masters resume, finishing in a tie for 27th during his debut in 2017, and following that with a fourth finish in 2018 and a tie for ninth during last year's tournament.
"I can't lie, I'm feeling pretty confident," Rahm, who has recorded six top ten finishes this season - including two victories, added.
"Happy where I'm at, and I think the best way I can explain it, I'm simply happy, outside the golf course, I'm happy, within the limits of now this pandemic, and I'm also happy on the golf course, and I've been putting in the work and golfing well.
"Hopefully something special happens this weekend."
Two hole-in-one’s in two days - Happy Birthday to me! https://t.co/66dxOr47T7
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmpga) November 10, 2020
That confidence will now be even greater after Rahm celebrated his 26th birthday in style on Tuesday, with a second hole-in-one in as many days.
It has become a tradition for players to attempt to skim a ball across the pond in front of the par three 16th during pre-tournament practice rounds.
And Rahm pulled off the shot so well that his ball not only found the green, but ran up to the back of the putting surface and curled around perfectly into the hole.
He also sank an ace on the fourth during practice on Monday, a moment captured on video by American Rickie Fowler.
