With a powerful driving performance second only to world No.1 Dustin Johnson, teenager Ryan Ruffels is confident he can become the ninth Australian winner of the Canadian Open.
The 19-year-old Ruffels booked his spot in a final-round shootout at the US PGA Tour's Toronto stop courtesy of a gutsy third round on Saturday which left him three shots back of the lead.
Seeing stretches of his best golf at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Glen Abbey course, Ruffels believes he's a strong chance to join countrymen Jason Day (2015), Nathan Green (2009) and Greg Norman (1984, 1992) as recent champions of the event.
And history supports Melbourne native Ruffels' quest - seven of previous eight Canadian Open winners entered the final round trailing the lead.
"If I can play for 18 holes on Sunday the way I did on the front nine today I feel I'll be right in there with an opportunity to win. It's been a lot of fun so far," Ruffels told AAP.
With an average driving distance of 309.7 yards, second in the field behind big-hitting Johnson (313.7), Ruffels muscled his way to a third round four-under-par 68 and a 14-under total.
After suffering two bogeys late on moving day, Ruffels bounced back with two birdies and a clutch par save at the 18th while playing partner Charley Hoffman (65) finished with the 54-hole lead at 17-under.
American Kevin Chappell (66) is solo second at 16-under, with Americans Robert Garrigus, who fired a course record-equalling 62, and Gary Woodland (68) a shot back in third.
Ruffels, who plays primarily on the PGA Tour's third-tier South American circuit, has accrued only 10 FedEx Cup points from five events in the top-flight this season.
In order to finish inside the FedEx Cup's top-200, Ruffels needs a top-10 at the Canadian Open to all but assure himself of a place in the secondary Web.com Finals, where he can play his way back to the big stage.
"Whatever I need for Web.com finals doesn't bother me because when I'm in a position to win a golf tournament that's my only focus. It'd be silly not to," said Ruffels, who cruelly missed out the top-200 by a point last year.
Should Ruffels bag his maiden professional victory on Sunday, at 19 years, three months he would become the third-youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1900.
Former US Open champion Johnson fired a 68 to move to 12-under and tied for 14th.
Meanwhile, the only other Australians to make the cut - Brett Drewitt (72) and Cameron Percy (73) - both stalled on day three to share 70th place at four-under.
AUSTRALIANS TO WIN THE CANADIAN OPEN
Jason Day - 2015
Nathan Green - 2009
Greg Norman - 1984, 1992
Kel Nagle - 1964
Jim Ferrier - 1950, 1951
Joe Kirkwood - 1933
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