Bubba Watson turned 36 today with a birthday wish to win this week’s 10th anniversary WGC – HSBC Champions event here in Shanghai.

The double Masters champion is among 30 of the world’s top-40 who will tee up on the Sheshan course and looking to bank the $US 1.6m first prize cheque.

And that’s just the incentive for Watson who’s yet to taste success in a World Golf Championship.

“I’ve never won a World Golf Championship, so to be part of of this, ten years now, this event, to be a part of that, been here the last three years, and looking forward to it,” he said.

Birthday boy Bubba Watson turns 36 on the eve of the WGC – HSBC Champions. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

“Any golf tournament you play in you want to win and it doesn’t matter if it a major, a WGC or a regular tour event, you want to win.

“So for me, I am here this week to win.  I want to compete at the highest level and yes, I am aiming at all of them.  So this week is a big week for me.

“But then it sounds weird, the year is not up yet, but here we are starting the season before the year is up.”

Watson’s best finish in a WGC event was runner-up to Justin Rose in 2012 WGC – Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral in suburban Miami, and funny enough Watson is playing the opening round of this week’s $US 8.5m event in the company of Rose and also Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.