RYAN Ruffels teed it up at Muirfield Village knowing he needed to play the best four rounds of his life to stay on the US PGA Tour for the rest of the year.

Fresh off a glowing endorsement from Jason Day, you could imagine the 18-year-old’s nerves upon carding an opening-hole bogey.

Then another three holes later.

Many would capitulate, but not Ruffels. He’d been there before –  at the age of 15, Ruffels famously fought back from an opening-round 77 to finish tied 24th at the 2013 Australian Open.

So it was no surprise when the Victorian native rallied with seven birdies in 12 holes to sign for an incredible 5-under 67 and a share of eighth place at the Memorial.

Ruffels, using his seventh and final sponsor’s invite for the year at Ohio, needs at least a lone second place to be eligible for more sponsor’s invites this year, or a top-10 for one more start.

His idol, somewhat mentor, Day was only a shot better than the teenager he yesterday claimed had more talent than himself at the same age, shooting a 6-under 66 to be two off the pace of Dustin Johnson’s blistering 64.