The worst moment of Gabriela Ruffels' golf career might prove to in fact be the best as the young Victorian lines up for her second US Women's Open tournament this week.
Ruffels is one of five Australians, including defending champion Minjee Lee, in the 156-strong field teeing off at the iconic Pebble Beach course.
After last year falling just short of qualifying for the LPGA Tour through the secondary Epson Tour, Ruffels blundered by forgetting to register for Q-Series, which was another ticket into the main stage.
But the 2019 US Women’s Amateur champion said by returning to the Epson she'd learnt how to win at an elite level, claiming two titles this year to lead the Race for the Card.
"It's been great playing on the Epson this year and not given a chance to get on the LPGA," the 23-year-old said,
"I've been able to win twice and I feel like it's been such a good lesson and has given me a lot of confidence. Learning how to win as a pro, it's so different.
"My first Epson win was my first big win as a pro and it's just learning how to deal with the nerves coming down the stretch looking at the leaderboard.
"Dealing with the pressure and expectation you put on yourself ... no amount of practise prepares you for being put in that position and trying to win.
"I feel like I've definitely learned a lot about myself since missing the deadline of Q-Series."
Unlike many of her rivals, Ruffels has played a tournament at Pebble Beach, and describes it as one of her favourites.
She has teed off twice in the TaylorMade Golf Pebble Beach Invitational - a non-tour mixed event played each November, while she also played a practice round on Sunday with fellow Australian Grace Kim.
"I loved it the moment I stepped on the course," said Ruffels, whose parents Ray Ruffels and Anna-Maria Fernandez were both professional tennis players.
"I played pretty well. I feel like I have built up knowledge about this course and hopefully I can use that this this week."
Ruffels boasts four top-25 finishes in major championships; in 2020 she was the highest-placed Australian in a tie 13th at the US Open at Cypress Creek, near Pebble Beach.
That performance was the catalyst for her to turn professional two months later.
"I have had some good results in majors and I just think that I just enjoy the challenge of them - I do like the pressure and I like the big stage," she said.
"They're always set up pretty tough and I enjoy the ups and downs.
"I feel like ball striking is probably one of the strengths of my game and that definitely has to be really good at a major so I'm looking forward to that same challenge this week."
As well as Ruffels, Lee and Kim, major winner Hannah Green and exciting amateur Maddison Hinson-Tolchard are the other Australians in the field.
