Teenage prodigy Ryan Ruffels is glad to be swinging it with the big boys at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The 18-year-old Australian has been forced to play on the third-tier US PGA Tour Latino America after missing the 2016 FedEx Cup's top 200 by a single point.
Despite making four cuts from seven US PGA Tour-sponsor invites last year, the Victorian failed to make the secondary Web.com Tour playoffs in October, where a 2017 PGA Tour card was on offer.
Ruffels turned professional in January 2016, aged 17, with considerable hype following strong finishes at the 2014 and 2015 Australian Open, in addition to winning a world junior championship.
"It wasn't exactly how I envisioned my rookie year," said Ruffels, the son of former Davis Cup tennis player Ray Ruffels.
"But it's a great little tour because every event is that country's national open and I'm gaining invaluable experience.
"In South America, you've just got to be smart; stay in the nicer tournament-organised hotels, even though it might be more expensive, so you're well rested, safe and have good food."
But Spanish-speaking Ruffels believes grinding it out in South America, with only two other Australians on tour, has prepared him for another seven sponsor exemptions he'll be afforded on the US PGA Tour this season.
Those starts were secured by Ruffels' management group Wasserman, whose stable includes fellow Australians Jason Day and Marc Leishman.
"I'll be working my backside off to take advantage; every shot this year counts and I'll put that emphasis on it accordingly," Ruffels said.
"I'm hungry to get back to the PGA Tour after playing well last year. My game is better and I'm stronger, mentally."
The first invite comes at this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, minutes from Ruffels' new base of Orlando, Florida.
"I've got good memories from playing here last year because I was paired with Mr Palmer's grandson, Sam Saunders," said Ruffels.
"Mr Palmer followed us around the back nine of each day and I was fortunate to meet him.
"Hopefully I can honour him with some good golf this week."
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