Gabi Ruffels played her first 18 holes with her dad’s clubs in December of 2014 after a career as a tennis phenom. By April, she was down to a five handicap. The Aussie native landed a scholarship to USC, her mother’s alma mater, won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur and notched a pair of top-15 finishes in LPGA majors before turning pro in 2021.
Coming to the game so late means golf still feels fresh to Ruffels, who loves to play more than practice. All signs pointed to her being on the LPGA earlier than this, but on her way to play a practice round for 2022 LPGA Q-School, it dawned on Ruffels that she never signed up.
A paperwork error sent her back to the Epson Tour for the 2023 season, where she won three times and topped the money list. Ruffels handled the mistake with great grace and called it a big year of learning.
Ruffels relies heavily on her brother and pro golfer Ryan, often sending him questions about how to play certain shots or advice on course management. While mom caddied for her on the Epson Tour, she’s had veteran LPGA caddie John Killeen on the bag to start the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at the phenom through the years:
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels catching her ball from her caddie on the 7th hole during the quarterfinal round…
Gabriela Ruffels catching her ball from her caddie on the 7th hole during the quarterfinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels during the semifinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf…
Gabriela Ruffels during the semifinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels during the semifinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf…
Gabriela Ruffels during the semifinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels with her caddie, Justin Silverstein, at the second hole during the final round at…
Gabriela Ruffels with her caddie, Justin Silverstein, at the second hole during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the second hole during the final round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the second hole during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her third shot at the 16th hole during the final round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her third shot at the 16th hole during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels and Albane Valenzuela during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at…
Gabriela Ruffels and Albane Valenzuela during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels, left, and Albane Valenzuela during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur…
Gabriela Ruffels, left, and Albane Valenzuela during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the 19th hole during the final round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the 19th hole during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels watching her tee shot at the 17th hole during the quarterfinal round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels watching her tee shot at the 17th hole during the quarterfinal round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels holds the Robert Cox Trophy after winning the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old…
Gabriela Ruffels holds the Robert Cox Trophy after winning the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons
2a3dd095-66e1-446d-b833-82b277cd6b8c-ruffels
Gabriela Ruffels is congratulated by her caddie after she sunk her putt to win the final…
Gabriela Ruffels is congratulated by her caddie after she sunk her putt to win the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons) (Photo: Steven Gibbons, USGA Museum)
Gabriela Ruffels with her caddie, Blair Stockett, at the 35th tee during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. (Steven Gibbons, USGA Museum)
Gabriela Ruffels with her caddie, Blair Stockett, at the 35th tee during the final round at…
Gabriela Ruffels with her caddie, Blair Stockett, at the 35th tee during the final round at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss. (Steven Gibbons, USGA Museum)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels watching her tee shot at the third hole during the first round of stroke…
Gabriela Ruffels watching her tee shot at the third hole during the first round of stroke play at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Photo: USGA/Chris Keane)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her tee shot at the sixth hole during the quarterfinal round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her tee shot at the sixth hole during the quarterfinal round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Chris Keane/USGA)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels walking up to her ball on the fourth hole during the semifinal round at…
Gabriela Ruffels walking up to her ball on the fourth hole during the semifinal round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the 15th hole during the semifinal round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her second shot at the 15th hole during the semifinal round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (Chris Keane/USGA)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Rose Zhang watching her tee shot at the 18th as Gabriela Ruffels walks behind her during…
Rose Zhang watching her tee shot at the 18th as Gabriela Ruffels walks behind her during the final round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels plays her tee shot at the 23rd hole during the final round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels plays her tee shot at the 23rd hole during the final round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Gabriela Ruffels watching Rose Zhang putt on the 26th hole during the final round at the…
Gabriela Ruffels watching Rose Zhang putt on the 26th hole during the final round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
ANA Inspiration – Round Two
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Amateur Gabriela Ruffels of Australia waits to tee off on…
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Amateur Gabriela Ruffels of Australia waits to tee off on the 18th hole during the second round of the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club on September 11, 2020 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ANA Inspiration – Round Two
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Amateur Gabriela Ruffels of Australia plays a tee shot on…
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Amateur Gabriela Ruffels of Australia plays a tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club on September 11, 2020 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LPGA: ANA Inspiration – Third Round
Sep 12, 2020; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips in at the 2nd green during…
Sep 12, 2020; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips in at the 2nd green during the third round of the 2020 ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Hills Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
2020 U.S. Women’s Open
Gabriela Ruffels plays a shot in the practice area during the practice round at the 2020…
Gabriela Ruffels plays a shot in the practice area during the practice round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (Robert Beck/USGA)
GOLF: FEB 24 LPGA – Gainbridge Championship Pro-Am
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Gabi Ruffels (AUS) watches her tee shot on 1 during the…
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Gabi Ruffels (AUS) watches her tee shot on 1 during the LPGA Gainbridge Pro Am at Lake Nona Golf Club, on February 24, 2021, in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GOLF: FEB 24 LPGA – Gainbridge Championship Pro-Am
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Gabi Ruffels (AUS) looks over her tee shot on 1 during…
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 24: Gabi Ruffels (AUS) looks over her tee shot on 1 during the LPGA Gainbridge Pro Am at Lake Nona Golf Club, on February 24, 2021, in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2018 East Lake Cup – Day 3
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 31: Gabi Ruffels of the USC Trojans is congratulated by her teammates…
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 31: Gabi Ruffels of the USC Trojans is congratulated by her teammates after defeating Andrea Lee of the Stanford Cardinal on the 17th green during day three of the 2018 East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club on October 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LPGA: U.S. Women’s Open Conducted by the USGA – First Round
May 30, 2019; Charleston, SC, USA; Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 8th hole during the…
May 30, 2019; Charleston, SC, USA; Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 8th hole during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Country Club of Charleston. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
LPGA: ANA Inspiration – Third Round
Sep 12, 2020; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips in at the 2nd green during…
Sep 12, 2020; Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips in at the 2nd green during the third round of the 2020 ANA Inspiration golf tournament at Mission Hills Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
LPGA: U.S. Women’s Open – First Round
Dec 10, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriella Ruffels prepares to putt on the 1st green during…
Dec 10, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriella Ruffels prepares to putt on the 1st green during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Champions Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Desert Sun
Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the ANA Inspiration…
Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, September 12, 2020.
Ana Inspiration Saturday 22
LPGA: U.S. Women’s Open – First Round
Dec 10, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriella Ruffels takes a tee shot off the 2nd tee…
Dec 10, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriella Ruffels takes a tee shot off the 2nd tee box during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Champions Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
LPGA: U.S. Women’s Open – Second Round
Dec 11, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriela Ruffels drives off the first tee during the second…
Dec 11, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Gabriela Ruffels drives off the first tee during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Champions Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Desert Sun
Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 7th hole during the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country…
Gabriela Ruffels tees off on the 7th hole during the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, April 1, 2021.
Ana Thursday 13
Syndication: Desert Sun
Gabriela Ruffels walks on the 7th green on Sunday, April 4, 2021, at ANA Inspiration at…
Gabriela Ruffels walks on the 7th green on Sunday, April 4, 2021, at ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Sundayanainspiration 5
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Second Round
Jun 25, 2021; John’s Creek, Georgia, USA; Gabriela Ruffels signals after her shot from the sixth…
Jun 25, 2021; John’s Creek, Georgia, USA; Gabriela Ruffels signals after her shot from the sixth tee during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Desert Sun
Gabriela Ruffels hits her second shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the…
Gabriela Ruffels hits her second shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., April 1, 2022.
Chevron Championship Friday 29
Syndication: Desert Sun
Gabriela Ruffels of Austalia tees off on nine during round three of the Chevron Championship at…
Gabriela Ruffels of Austalia tees off on nine during round three of the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Saturday, April 2, 2022.
LPGA: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – Final Round
Jun 25, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips the ball onto the 3rd green…
Jun 25, 2023; Springfield, New Jersey, USA; Gabriela Ruffels chips the ball onto the 3rd green during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: South Bend Tribune
Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels, second from right, receives the winner’s check of $30,000 Saturday at South Bend…
Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels, second from right, receives the winner’s check of $30,000 Saturday at South Bend Country Club following the conclusion of the Epson Tour’s $200,000 Four Lakes Invitational. Ruffels shot a final round of three-under 69 for a three-round total of 12-under 204 and a three-stroke victory. Helping make the check presentation are, from left, golf professional and general manager Greg Helmkamp, Beacon Health Foundation president Susan King, and Scott Brewer, the senior vice president of government affairs at Four Winds Casinos.
Syndication: South Bend Tribune
Four Winds Invitational champion Gabriela Ruffels of Melbourne, Australia, holds her championship trophy as she celebrates…
Four Winds Invitational champion Gabriela Ruffels of Melbourne, Australia, holds her championship trophy as she celebrates with mother and caddy Anna-Maria Fernandez following Saturday’s final round at South Bend (Ind.) Country Club. The mother, a tennis All-American, and daughter both competed at the University of Southern California.
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