Australia's top-ranked amateur golfer could turn professional by the end of the month, if destiny has in store for Ryan Ruffels a career-shaping victory in one of Australia's "Triple Crown" events. 
Regarded as Australian golf's "next big thing", Ruffels is ready to turn professional at some point in the next 12 months, but those plans could be fast-tracked by a breakout win over the next three weeks.
"I will definitely turn pro next year, I'm just not sure of the timing yet," the world's No.7 ranked amateur said on Wednesday.  "It could be   January or   February, it could be   September. 
"I think if I were to win [an event] in the next few weeks, then I'd probably turn pro the week after."  
This time last year Ruffels created a "Masters moment" when he poured in a long, winding putt to complete a memorable few days playing in the same group as Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy in the 2014 Australian Masters.
The "pop" from the gallery - and the first murmurings of a "Ruff, Ruff, Ruff" chant - has up until now been one of the youngster's favourite memories in golf. But now he has his eyes on another Masters moment. "I feel like the next step for me is to win one of these big events," Ruffels said.
"That would be awesome - to hole another big putt like the one I did last year, but this time on the 18th on Sunday to win, or get in a play-off with Adam Scott or something like that," he said. "I have been envisaging it for weeks."
As you can tell, the 17-year-old no longer sees himself as a "prodigy".
This year, he is a contender. And he is serious about it.
"The first year I played these [Triple Crown] events I just wanted to make the cut," he recalled of 2013.
"Then last year, even though I said I wanted to contend, I knew it was going to be tough. But this year, I definitely think - with the experiences that I've had ... that I can put myself in contention.
"I think I can now get myself away from that 'wow' factor of playing with big names and just focus in on what I have to do."
Saying and doing at this level are two different things, particularly when you only just finished your year 12 exams last week.
Handling the occasion long enough to create the moment is the challenge. Ruffels doesn't need to be told that.
"Earlier this year when I played at Huntingdale in the interstate series, I was 10-under through 15 holes in one of my matches," he said, ahead of Thursday's opening round of the Masters.
"So I can shoot the numbers around here - make enough birdies and eagles - that's not the issue.
"It's the stage that we are on. And as much as  I love that and that's what I play for ... it's something you've got to block out and deal with," he said.