Woodbridge to the Open rescue for Aussie golf ace
The one-time Australian junior tennis champ will have Zara Woodbridge, the former golf-star daughter of Todd, on her bag when she hits off for Thursday's opening round at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
Ruffels freshened up for this month's Evian Championship, where she led into the final round before finishing tied for ninth, with a day out at Wimbledon.
Now the 24-year-old will team up once more with Woodbridge at golf's final major of 2025.
"It is nice to have Zara on the bag," Ruffels said ahead of her 5.53pm (AEST) first-round tee time.
"I saw her for the first time in a year and a half, maybe a couple years at Wimbledon. I didn't really have a caddie lined up for this week. It's been kind of a weird year for me with caddies.
"I was like, 'What are you doing this week?' And she is like, 'Yeah, I'm not doing much'. I'm like, 'Well, do you want to come caddie the British Open?' And she said yes.
"So it's great to have her here." A quick study in golf after switching from tennis, winning the US Amateur and then boasting top-15 finishes in her first two majors in 2020, Ruffels is one of the least experienced Australians with links golf, but believes what she has learnt will hold her in good stead.
"This is my second British Open and fourth time playing links golf, with the two Scottish Opens, so I haven't played it too much, but I've had a little bit of practice with it maybe in Australia at the Dunes Medal," Ruffels said. "But I like to be creative. I'm a feel player and I like to experiment with different flights and stuff."
Winners of the past two majors, Ruffels' fellow 24-year-old Grace Kim and superstar Minjee Lee, along with Perth stablemate Hannah Green also have morning starts.
Still ranked 11th in the world after hitting No.5 following a three-win 2024 season, Green is flying under the radar somewhat.
"It was always going to be hard because I had a very successful year last year," Green said.
"I've missed a couple cuts this year in major championships and they're ones that I don't typically.
"I feel like sometimes I put too much pressure on myself.
"But I actually really enjoy playing links golf, I enjoy the challenge. I feel like a couple of years I've perhaps had a rougher side of the draw than there has been.
"But I'm actually really enjoying Porthcawl's course so far, so that really helps me having a positive attitude coming into the week.
"Aussie golf is obviously in great hands at the moment. I'm sure Gracie and Minjee are both still on cloud nine from their wins earlier in the season.
"But maybe another Aussie on the trophy would be very cool as well."
FIRST-ROUND TEE TIMES FOR AUSTRALIANS AND OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS AT THE WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN (all times AEST):
5.09pm: Grace Kim, Ruoning Yin (CHN)5.31pm: Minjee Lee, Jeeno Thitikul (THA), Charley Hull (ENG)5.42pm: Hannah Green5.53pm: Gabriela Ruffels6.31pm: Kirsten Rudgeley7.26pm: Karis Davidson9.54pm: Lydia Ko (NZL), Lottie Woad (ENG)10.16pm: Nelly Korda (USA)10.32pm: Steph Kyriacou11.49pm: Hira Naveed12.22am (Friday): Cassie Porter
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Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has been cited for foul play over an incident in Saturday's third Test against Australia that left Wallabies' flyhalf Tom Lynagh knocked out. The incident was briefly looked at by the match officials just before halftime but Sheehan initially escaped punishment even though replays showed he entered a ruck at speed and appeared to make dangerous contact with Lynagh's head. The Australian playmaker was taken from the field to undergo a head injury assessment, which he failed, preventing him from rejoining the match, which the Wallabies won 22-12. Sheehan's actions at the ruck were hotly debated on social media, with many incredulous that he was let off as Australian supporters argued he should have been given an instant red card. Tom Lynagh was substituted off after being hit in the head. Picture: Getty Images PREMIUM RUGBY CONTENT READ: Schmidt reveals secret weapon in Wallabies' win over Lions READ: Rugby can't allow Lions win to mask Wallabies' many issues READ: Every player rated: Skelton and Tupou star, Suaalii stuns An independent reviewer later looked back at the incident and World Rugby subsequently released a statement in the early hours of Sunday morning announcing Sheehan had been cited and would face an expedited hearing later that day. 'British & Irish Lions player Dan Sheehan will have a citing complaint reviewed by an independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) after being cited by the independent citing commissioner Adrien Menez for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.20 (a) (a player must not charge into a ruck or maul …) in the Australia v British & Irish Lions third test in Sydney on Saturday, 2 August,' World Rugby said in the statement. Asked about the incident after the match, Lions coach Andy Farrell said he couldn't comment because he hadn't looked at it yet. 'There are all sorts of rugby incidents that we can pull apart. I've seen quite a few more incidents as well,' he said. 'We'll always go through the right channels when that's concerned.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was also tight-lipped after launching a blistering attack on the way officials deal with head knocks from collisions at rucks after the Television Match Official failed to penalise the Lions over another contentious clean-out that would have ruled out their series-winning try in the second Test in Melbourne. But Schmidt was biting his tongue this time when asked about the hit on Lynagh, the talented young son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh. 'In live, we didn't see Tom's incident, and it was probably a little bit later that we got a glimpse of it, and that's all I've seen so far,' Schmidt said. × Dan Sheehan has been cited for foul play. Picture: Getty Images 'So I'd rather not comment on it until I've seen it. But … You know, there's always a difficulty for a TMO, I guess. He's watching the main TV broadcast, and then if he doesn't pick it up there, then he doesn't' access the other angles because everything's happening so quickly.' Schmidt did say that he didn't think there was any malice from the Irish hooker and also that he had checked in on Lynagh's health to ensure he was OK 'I've got massive respect for Dan,' Schmidt said. 'There's a few things like that that will happen in a really physical contest. 'For us with Tom, he is still a young kid and we'll try to look after him and make sure that he's fully fit on the back of getting that knock. But I had a good chat to him after the game and he's pretty resilient.' Originally published as British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan cited for hit on Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh
