If there is one thing athletes love more than winning titles, it is making history. And making history is certainly on United States golfer Bubba Watson's mind, as he heads into this week's Masters (Apr 9-12).

The defending champion, who also donned the green jacket in 2012, could become only the second golfer in history - after the legendary Jack Nicklaus - to win the tournament for a third time in four years, and only the fourth player to manage to retain the title.

But if Watson, 36, is feeling any pre-tournament jitters at the Augusta National Golf Club, the hard-hitting player is certainly not showing it.

In a conference call with the regional media, the Florida native said: "When I get here I just feel energised, I feel like a kid again. I mean, this is Augusta. We play the same course year after year, we've seen the highlights year after year... so when you get there you feel the buzz, you remember the history, and it makes you feel younger."

Watson has to contend with one of the toughest fields in recent years.

Northen Irishman Rory McIlroy is in red-hot form, winning his last two majors, while young guns like Jordan Spieth, 21, and Patrick Reed, 24, are hot on his feels.

But he said: "Your confidence level is always the same. I'm always here trying to compete. I'm not here just trying to make cut. I'm here trying to win golf tournaments."