SHENZHEN, China, (AFP) - Bubba Watson hardly had time to wipe the sleep out of his eyes before he was back on the golf course, half a world away from the disappointment that was this year's Masters.

As defending champion, the 36-year-old finished on one over par, 19 strokes behind runaway winner Jordan Spieth when play came to end on Sunday at Augusta National.

Watson presented the new champion with his green jacket then got on a plane before dusting his jet lag down with a practice round at Genzon Golf Club ahead of Thursday's inaugural Shenzhen International in the southern Chinese metropolis.

"I just didn't make any putts," was the world No. 4's frank verdict of his effort to retain his Augusta title. "And then Jordan played unbelievable," he told reporters Wednesday. "He was the first person ever to get 19 under. Made all his putts.

"It's pretty special to see him battling the year before and me beating him, and then him coming with that performance the following year. Pretty amazing."