Rising star Gabi Ruffels has joined her brother Ryan in the professional ranks

Their dad played Davis Cup for Australia, and now Gabi Ruffels has joined her brother as a pro golfer with big expectations.

Gabriela Ruffels won the prestigious 2019 US Women’s Amateur. Picture: USGA/Steven Gibbons

Australian golf has a second brother-sister act on the professional circuit after Gabi Ruffels decided to turn pro following a stellar college career in the US and some startling performances at two major championships.

Ruffels, 20, is the sister of Ryan, who turned pro at just 17 amid much fanfare in 2016 and has been playing in the US ever since.

The pair are the children of former Australian Davis Cup tennis player Ray Ruffels, and Gabi will make her professional debut at the Gainbridge LPGA event in Florida at the end of February.

Gabi stamped herself as a future star with victory in the prestigious US Women’s Amateur in 2019, the first Australian to win that title.

She’s ranked the sixth best amateur in the world and has decided to make the jump to the pro ranks.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a successful amateur run and am excited to take the next step in my golfing career,” she told the Golf Australia website.

“I feel as though now is a great time for me; I’m excited and ready to capitalise on my rookie year as a professional while also finishing my degree at the University of Southern California.”

The pair of Ruffels join women’s world No 8 Minjee Lee and her brother, Min Woo, who is making his US PGA Tour debut this week at Pebble Beach, as a brother-sister combination on the professional circuit.

Super excited to announce that I have decided to turn professional and will be joining the @nikegolf family. I will be making my LPGA pro debut at the @GainbridgeLPGA. Thank you to @USCWomensGolf for the past 3 years, it’s been the best experience. Excited to get it going 🤍 pic.twitter.com/3WrCKphGRs

— Gabi Ruffels (@GabiRuffels) February 10, 2021

Ruffels has been a standout amateur despite only moving into golf in her teens, having also been a promising tennis junior.

She reached the US Women’s Amateur final twice in consecutive years, winning it once, and also finished inside the top 15 in two professional majors – the ANA Inspiration and the US Women’s Open.

Ruffels was also a star for the University of Southern California.

WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said it was “really exciting to welcome Gabi to the professional ranks”.

“Her record over the past few seasons has been exemplary, both in college and amateur events.,” Lunn said.

“Gabi has proven she has both the talent and the temperament to succeed at the highest level when she has competed in LPGA Tour events as an amateur, so I have absolutely no doubt that Australia has another star in our midst and I can‘t wait to watch her compete regularly against the world’s best golfers.”

Originally published as Rising star Gabi Ruffels has joined her brother Ryan in the professional ranks