Major champion urges YouTube golf star to enter PGA Tour Q-School after beating the yips

Jason Day has encouraged YouTube golf star Ryan Ruffels to enter the PGA Tour's qualifying school later this year.

Ruffels, 28, enjoyed a stellar amateur but never quite made it in the big leagues. 

The Australian turned professional aged 17 and had several close calls on the developmental tours before finally stepping away from the game in 2022 to concentrate on content creation. 

He received a sponsor's invitation to last month's Myrtle Beach Classic and, not only did he make the cut, was in contention after 54 holes. 

PGA Tour veteran Brandt Snedeker eventually pulled away in the final round to step into the winner's circle for the first time in more than eight years.  

But Day, who also opened up on his tough year on the PGA Tour after the first round of the Memorial, believes Ruffles should consider giving the PGA Tour another crack at the whip. 

"I mean, everyone knew how talented he was growing up as a kid," he said. 

"Obviously he battled chipping yips and driver yips, so he has come from the depth back. He's playing some really good golf. 

"I think YouTube has given him a platform to obviously showcase how good he is as a player, what he is like personality-wise, but you can still that he still has a lot of good game in there.

"And he's young enough to be able to at least give it another shot."

Day said YouTube has provided Ruffels the platform to give him financial support to compete in the lower tours. 

"A lot of people don't understand how quickly money goes when you're playing on a lower Tour and how fast things go," Day said. 

"So, like, for him to be able to do it, go through it, obviously played some really good golf at Myrtle Beach, that was his first real big tournament in a long time. 

"I hope that he gets some more starts and then finds some confidence and then goes to Q-School and gets through that and then at least he's got some status, which is good."

Pre-qualifying for qualifying school begins in September. 

The final stage is contested annually over 72 holes on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in December. 

The top five players earn PGA Tour status for the following campaign. 

Korn Ferry Tour status is given out to the next 40 and ties. 

Ruffels isn't the only YouTube golfer to return to PGA Tour competition this year. 

Former amateur star Brade Dalke has accepted a sponsor's invite to the Rocket Classic. 

Dalke, 28, is also in the field for the Good Good Championship and will also tee it up at the BMW International Open on the DP World Tour in July.