Gabi Ruffels is in a sweet spot. She’s 24 years old, seeing the world and playing golf for fun. And, ahead of the first women’s major championship of the year, The Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, she’s in pretty tasty form.
Ruffels has been a professional for four years but only became a fully-fledged LPGA Tour player this season. And it appears she remains in the early blooming of the garden variety golf addict.
She watches golf on television. She’d prefer to play the game than practice. And she’s loving the life of the genuine LPGA ‘tourist’. Even the travel hasn’t jaded her.
“I went from China and then had a week off, and then had three weeks in a row [playing tournaments] and then week off last week. And then we go at it again,” Ruffels says.
“This is why you play and it's so fun and it's fun to be able to compete against the best in the world week after week. I find the best practice is playing.
“So, this is where I want to be and it's fun.”
Where is she? In form.
There was a T15 at the Blue Bay PGA on Hainan Island in China. There was a T13 at the Arizona Championship which included seven birdies and an eagle in an opening round 64.
Two weeks ago at Palos Verdes Golf Club in the Los Angeles Open, she shot 65 on the Saturday before needing a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force a play-off with the best player in the world, Nelly Korda.
“I definitely feel like I'm playing well. That was a really cool week in Palos Verdes to get third and one shot out of the playoff,” Ruffels says.
“And it kind of showed me that when, when my game is good, it's there and I can compete with the best in the world.
"I’m excited.”
Ruffels’ major record is outstanding for a rookie. Since 2020 she’s played nine tournaments and been cut just once.
She played the Chevron Championship three times for three top-25s though didn’t play last year when the tournament was held at Carlton Woods, a Jack Nicklaus design.
She says she takes plenty from her parents, former professional tennis players Anna-Maria Fernandez and Ray Ruffels.
She also took plenty from watching Scottie Scheffer’s domination at the Masters.
“Watching Scottie these past couple years has been quite amazing, he's just so dominant right now," Ruffels says.
“I look at his demeanour out there, that's something that really stood out to me - how calm he is. He never gets too high or low. Whatever happens, when things go his way or they don't go his way, he doesn't get flustered.
“I love watching golf and I love watching the top players. If I get the chance to pick their brains I will. But I love just watching them and observing them and seeing why they are standing so far out from the rest of the field.”
One of those is Korda. Call her the Scheffler of women’s golf at the moment. Call him the Nelly Korda of men's golf.
The 25-year-old Floridian has won her last four starts and will be looking to add another major to the Women’s PGA Championship she won in 2021. The only women ever to win five straight are two of the greatest ever: Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.
Getting within a shot of the best player in the world gives Ruffels confidence.
“I’ve had some good results out there and was one shot away from a playoff. I guess the thought kind of sunk in that, hey, you know, if I was one shot better then I'm in a playoff and I have a chance to win an LPGA tournament," Ruffels says.
“I had never really experienced that before at the LPGA level.
“I feel like whenever you go to a tournament that the goal definitely is to try and win and your practice should kind of make you believe that you can. And, I mean, it'd be a dream come true, that's for sure.”
In answer to the old golf question, how are you hitting 'em, Ruffels says she's hitting 'em well.
“I'm feeling good. I've put in some good practice with my coach and I feel like I'm hitting it good," she says.
“And I feel like I have a bit of momentum from the past three weeks. I had three pretty solid weeks in PV [Palos Verdes], Phoenix and Vegas. So I’m just trying to continue that form.
“But yeah - the game feels good.”
Related Articles
Korda takes top honours in LPGA Awards
The Aussies at the U.S Women’s Open
.jpg&h=115&w=225&c=1&s=1)
