Australian teenager Ryan Ruffels took some inspiration from Jason Day as he made a flying start to the US Amateur golf championship in Chicago.
Seventeen-year-old Ruffels shot a four-under-par 66 on Monday to be high on the leaderboard after his opening round of stroke play at Olympia Fields Country Club.
He had interrupted his practice a day earlier to watch 27-year-old countryman Day complete his record-breaking win in the US PGA Championship in Wisconsin, claiming a hard-earned maiden major title.
"Everything stopped at about 3:00 yesterday," Ruffels told the USGA website.
"We all ducked inside to the clubhouse and watched it. It's funny, we all kind of feed off that a little bit.
"He's pretty young, and kind of came along the same path we're on. It was awesome to see him win."
Ruffels recently played his first US PGA Tour event, the Canadian Open, where Day won the week after his near miss at the British Open.
"I was lucky enough to have a practice round with him," said Ruffels.
"He's a great guy and an even better golfer, and he deserves everything coming to him."
