While Ryan Ruffels' friends are pursuing gap years overseas or starting university, the teenage Australian golf prodigy is high on the leaderboard at a US PGA Tour event.
But not just any tournament - this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational is arguably the most sentimental of the year after the legendary golfer's death in September, aged 87.
Victorian Ruffels took full advantage of his sponsor's invite to the prestigious Bay Hill tournament in Florida, firing an opening round of three-under-par 69 to sit in a share of sixth after the first round.
Ruffels will start day two just two shots back of leaders Matthew Fitzpatrick of England and Argentine Emiliano Grillo.
"All my friends are either at university or on gap years and I have few golf mates playing on mini tours, so I guess you could say they probably wish they were doing what I am," Ruffels told AAP.
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"To have these opportunities as an 18-year-old is about as good as it gets."
Ruffels, the son of former Australian tennis professional Ray and US Federation Cup player Anna-Maria Fernandez, turned professional in January 2016, aged 17.
Considerable hype followed him, courtesy of strong finishes at the 2014 and 2015 Australian Open, in addition to winning a world junior championship.
Yet Ruffels has been forced to battle recently on the US PGA Tour's third-tier South American circuit after missing the 2016 FedEx Cup's top 200 by a single point, despite making four cuts in seven sponsor's exemptions.
"It's a great feeling; this is where you want to be eventually. It's nice to be back on the US PGA Tour and even better to be playing well today," Ruffels said.
Ruffels' management group Wasserman, whose stable includes fellow Australians Jason Day and Marc Leishman, have secured the youngster seven starts on the US PGA Tour this season.
Ruffels said he'd lean on mentors Day and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy as he looks to book a full card on the lucrative US tour.
"It's humbling to have major winners like Geoff and Jason to believe in you and be in your corner," he said.
