The biggest golfing experience of Brian McElhinney's life is just a week away now and the Donegal golfer has notched up a notable victory as his US Masters debut approaches.

Having won the British Amateur title at Royal Birkdale last June the 22-year-old, who plays out of North West Golf Club, earned a dream trip to Augusta and on the way he beat Italian Edoardo Molinari, holder of the US Amateur crown. McElhinney also beat Molinari by one hole in the second round at Birkdale last year.

This time they met in the now traditional Georgia Cup match at the Golf Club of Georgia in Atlanta and, on greens as fast as they will encounter at the Masters, McElhinney won the head-to-head contest between the two amateur champions three and two - even though he was approximately five over par when the contest finished.

"There were a few scrappy holes, but I've delighted to have come through," said McElhinney, who is also a former Irish and European amateur champion. "It's good preparation because the greens are so fast here and it makes you think about course management."

"It's definitely going to be exciting next week, but nerve-wracking as well," added the quietly-spoken Walker Cup player.

He paid his first visit to Augusta on his arrival in America last week and commented: "It was unreal. Very tough, very long. You have to be accurate off the tee and hit the fairways to give yourself a chance."

"I've been nervous before, but it's supposed to be a different kind of nerves," he added. "I just want to enjoy it and play as well as I can. It's an experience more than anything."

On Sunday night McElhinney plans to stay in the Crow's Nest at the top of the clubhouse, but for the rest of the week he is staying elsewhere with his parents and brother. Molinari's plan is to be in the Crow's Nest all week - providing it's not too hot there.

"I want to get the whole experience," said the 25-year-old, whose brother Francesco, competing this week in the Portuguese Open, is flying out to caddie for him.

Molinari was the first Italian to enter the US Amtateur, let alone win it, and he already knows who one of his partners will be for the first two rounds, defending champion Tiger Woods.

"I watched him on the driving range at the Open last year (Molinari made the halfway cut) and I'm hoping we might practise together one day next week," said Molinari.

"I aim to ask him, and Sergio Garcia said last September he'd play a round with me too."

The Turin golfer has already made two visits to Augusta and played five rounds each time. Last October two of them were 70s, but the greens were soft and relatively slow then.