Gabriela Ruffels is an Australian-American professional golfer who has remarkably transitioned from tennis to golf. Born on April 14, 2000, in Orlando, Florida, Ruffels is the daughter of former tennis professionals Anna-Maria Fernandez and Ray Ruffels.
You can follow Gabriela Ruffels’s net worth, career earnings, stats, career overview, and more here.
Gabriela Ruffels’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gabriela Ruffels |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 2000 |
| Birthplace | Orlando, Florida |
| Nationality | Australian-American |
| Parents | Anna-Maria Fernandez, Ray Ruffels |
| Sibling | Ryan Ruffels (brother) |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in |
| College | University of Southern California |
| Turned Professional | 2021 |
She pursued tennis and achieved significant success as a junior before switching to golf in 2015. Since then, Ruffels has become a prominent figure in the golfing world, known for her impressive achievements and potential.
Professional Career
Gabriela Ruffels’s professional golf career has been marked by rapid success and notable achievements since she turned professional in 2021. After transitioning from a promising junior tennis career, Ruffels quickly made an impact in the golf world.
She began her professional journey on the LPGA Tour, Symetra Tour, and Ladies European Tour, with her debut at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.
In her first year, she achieved a fourth-place finish at the IOA Championship and tied for 17th at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open.
In 2023, Ruffles excelled on the Epson Tour, securing three victories: the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, the Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes, and the Four Winds Invitational.
Her performance at the Garden City Charity Classic was particularly impressive, as she tied the all-time 54-hole Epson Tour scoring record with a score of -19.
These achievements earned her the Epson Tour Player of the Year award and secured her LPGA Tour card for the 2024 season.
Ruffels’s rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2024 has been promising, highlighted by a third-place finish at the Cognizant Founders Cup, where she finished at nine under par.
Her ability to compete against top players like Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagstrom demonstrates her growing prowess on the professional stage.
Gabriela Ruffels’s Net Worth Details
Gabriela Ruffels’s net worth is estimated to be $500k as of 2025. She has accumulated $435,620 in earnings from her participation in various events, including the LPGA Tour.
Net Worth Growth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $100k |
| 2022 | $200K |
| 2023 | $400k |
| 2024 | $500k |
Prize Money
| Tournament | Year | Position | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Founders Cup | 2024 | 3rd | $305,000 |
| FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship | 2024 | T3 | $120,026 |
| Blue Bay LPGA | 2024 | T15 | $29,247 |
| Ford Championship | 2024 | T13 | $30,795 |
| T-Mobile Match Play | 2024 | T28 | $16,774 |
| The Chevron Championship | 2024 | T40 | $37,299 |
| KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | 2024 | T46 | $39,260 |
| Women’s Scottish Open | 2024 | T6 | $54,835 |
Endorsements
Gabriela Ruffels has secured endorsements with companies such as AvidXchange, where she represents the brand alongside other professional golfers.
Career Stats
| Year | Tournaments Played | Cuts Made | Wins | Top 10s | Best Finish | Earnings ($) | Scoring Average |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | CUT | n/a | 76.00 |
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | T13 | n/a | 72.50 |
| 2021 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | T17 | n/a | 71.31 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | T25 | n/a | 72.17 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 3 (Epson Tour) | 0 | T19 | n/a | 70.96 |
| 2024 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3rd | 581,978 | 70.74 |
FAQs
1. Who is Gabriela Ruffels?
Gabriela Ruffels is an Australian-American professional golfer and former junior tennis player. Born on April 14, 2000, in Florida, she transitioned from tennis to golf at age 14. She became the first Australian to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2019 and turned professional in 2021.
2. What is Gabriela Ruffels’ connection to tennis?
Gabriela comes from a tennis family; her parents, Ray Ruffels and Anna-Maria Fernandez, were professional players. She played competitive tennis as a junior, winning multiple doubles titles before switching to golf in 2015 due to a growing interest in the sport.
3. What are Gabriela Ruffels’ major achievements in golf?
Ruffels won the prestigious U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2019 and became the first Australian to do so. As a professional, she won three events on the Epson Tour in 2023 and earned the Epson Tour Player of the Year award, securing her LPGA Tour card for 2024.
4. When did Gabriela Ruffels turn professional?
Gabriela Ruffels turned professional on February 10, 2021, after forgoing her final semester at the University of Southern California. She began competing on the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour (formerly Symetra), and Ladies European Tour.
5. How did Gabriela Ruffels perform as an amateur golfer?
As an amateur, Ruffels excelled by winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2019 and representing USC at NCAA championships. She also competed internationally, finishing ninth at the 2016 Australian Women’s Amateur and seventeenth in 2017.
6. What challenges has Gabriela Ruffels faced in her career?
One notable setback was missing LPGA Q-Series registration in 2021, delaying her LPGA qualification. Despite this, she persevered on the Epson Tour, where she achieved significant success in 2023 with three wins.
7. What is Gabriela Ruffels’ playing style or strengths?
Ruffels is known for her mental toughness and adaptability, traits honed from her tennis background. Her iron play is particularly strong, which has been praised by mentors like Karrie Webb and other professionals.
8. What role has family played in Gabriela Ruffels’ career?
Her family has been pivotal in her journey. Her brother Ryan, also a professional golfer, introduced her to golf and provided guidance early on. Her parents supported her transition from tennis to golf despite her success in tennis.
9. What are Gabriela Ruffels’ goals for her professional golf career?
Ruffels aims to establish herself on the LPGA Tour after earning her card for the 2024 season. While she avoids setting long-term goals, she focuses on improving with each tournament and competing at the highest level.
10. Where did Gabriela Ruffels attend college?
Gabriela attended the University of Southern California (USC), where she played collegiate golf for the USC Trojans from 2018 to early 2021 before turning professional. Her time at USC significantly contributed to her development as a golfer.
