Gould is one of British golf's brightest prospects

The 16-year-old from Cardiff will be part of Europe's 12-strong team hoping to retain the title against the USA at the Westfield Group Country Club, Ohio.

"I'm really excited at the moment, but also a little anxious as well," Gould told BBC Wales Sport.

"We don't know what kind of side they are going to have. Hopefully we can win and it might open a few doors for me."

The biennial contest between some of the world's brightest golfing prospects was first played 1995, with Europe leading the series 3-1.

The teams consist of six boys and six girls. The competition features two days of six four-ball matches involving all 12 members of each team.

The opening-day matches feature three boys' matches and three girls' matches, while the final day features six matches involving boy and girl combination.

Gould secured his place in the team after winning the European Young Masters in Austria in July.

I look up to Sergio Garcia, he's a great inspiration 2004 Junior Ryder Cup player Zac Gould

A week later, he won the St David's Gold Cross title - one of the top events on the men's Welsh Order of Merit.

"That got me into the men's Wales team for the Home Internationals," explained Gould. "But the downfall is that the competition is being played the same time as the Junior Ryder Cup.

"So I had to choose between the two. In the end I chose the Ryder Cup, but it was real hard decision to make."

A week after the junior event, the Ryder Cup proper takes place in Michigan.

Gould will be among the hordes of spectators at Oakland Hills, giving him an opportunity to meet his idol Sergio Garcia for the first time.

The Spaniard was part of the victorious Europe side that won the inaugural Junior Ryder Cup in 1995, and went on to gain full Ryder Cup honours when he became the youngest ever competitor back in 1999.

"I look up to Sergio, he's a great inspiration," added Gould, who intends to turn professional in four years after spending a few years learning his trade in America.

"I also look up to Tiger Woods because you have to learn from the best. It'll be great to meet them all."

Junior Ryder Cup teams 2004

Europe- Team captain Andy Ingram
Boys: Dominic Angkawidjaja (Austria), Lluis Garcia del Moral (Spain), Oliver Fisher (England), Zac Gould (Wales), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Marius Thorp (Norway)
Girls: Belen Mozo (Spain), Carlota Ciganda, Florentyna Parker (both England) Linn Gustafsson, Camilla Lennarth (both Sweden), Valerie Sternbeck (Germany)