Joshua Bullough will be attempting to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods in July when he competes in the World Junior Golf Championships at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

The 15-year-old will take part in the event, which Woods won 20 years ago, despite only playing on the British Junior Tour for the first time last year.

Bullough, who plays off an eight handicap, secured his place after winning the Callaway World Qualifier event at The Belfry with a score of 79, a triumph which he says came as a complete surprise.

“I was one of the last groups out and when I came in after my final round, my mates said that I was winning and I was like ‘whoa!’ I couldn’t believe it! We had a few hours’ drive back home afterwards and it didn’t really sink in until I got back home.”

The feat was all the more impressive as he was competing against players who were up to two years older than him.

His dad Darren, who is Joshua’s caddy, has similarly fond memories of that day.

He said: “We thought we’d enter it just for the experience really but he actually won it. I was in shock on the way home!”

It’s been something of a meteoric rise for the Calverley member, who twice won junior of the year at his club before coming to prominence on the national scene.

Darren says his son’s aptitude for the game has progressed quickly since he followed in his footsteps and first took up the clubs.

He said: “I played at a good level when I was younger and started playing again a few years ago and Josh got involved then. I soon realised he was good and a natural at the game.

“He started off with a 36 handicap which has rapidly come down since; as he’s got bigger, obviously he can hit it further. He also spent two years at the Lee Westwood Academy and did a residential course there last year, which was great.”

The World Championships, which take place at the venue of the 2008 US Open and will feature contestants from over 40 different countries, will be Joshua’s first competition overseas.

“I can’t wait,’ said Joshua, who is also a member at Woodhall Hills and Headingley.

“I’ve seen the course on TV before and I never thought I’d get the chance to play on it, it’s amazing. We’ll hopefully get some nice weather over there as well!”

Darren said: “I dreamt of playing golf in America when I was younger but I couldn’t afford to do that, so it’s a dream come true for me as well as him.

“We’re not going over there with the intention to win. If we can make the cut it would be brilliant, we’re just going to go and enjoy the atmosphere.”

It could be just the start of Joshua’s globe-trotting career but Darren says his son has the right mentality to handle whatever comes his way.

“He keeps telling me to calm down actually! He’s practising every night now but he’s one of those kids who stays calm under pressure. He’s very level headed.

“He’d love to be a professional one day but he knows it’s going to be hard work.”

Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and David Toms are other famous names to have won the world junior title.