His two years younger sister Gabriela also became a successful tennis player and, from 2015, golfer.

Ruffels moved to Australia after his father was offered a major job in Australian tennis.

[3] In January 2016, at the age of 17, Ruffels turned professional, making his debut at the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour.

[4] He received the maximum seven sponsor exemptions on the PGA Tour, but failed to finish higher than 20th in any of his starts.

[5] In September, he received an invitation to the Copa Diners Club International on PGA Tour Latinoamérica and finished in a tie for second.