First, you field an hour-long call from Phil Mickelson, who is hoping to convince you that his old university, Arizona State, has the right golf program for you if you decide to study abroad.

Then, about one week later, world No.1 Rory McIlroy sends you a casual text asking if you want to play a warm-up round when he comes Down Under next week, and maybe have some lunch.

Then, a few days after that, you get told that for the first two days of the Australian Masters, you will be partnering world No.2 Adam Scott and former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy, essentially Australian golfing royalty.

This is a snapshot from the life of Ryan – Australian golf prodigy Ryan Ruffels. "It's been a big few weeks," said Ruffels, with the understatement young sporting talents are inclined to.

"It's a dream come true, but it's also a strange feeling."

"I kind of see myself as the exact same person that I was 12 months ago when none of this had really happened, and all of a sudden I'm getting paired with guys like Geoff and Adam, and getting to play rounds with Rory and getting to know these big names that have won majors and are at the top of golf at the moment.

"It's all happened so quickly."

The son of former professional tennis players Ryan and Annamaria, the youngster was born and raised in Southern California, before moving to Australia at the age of 11.

He figures the first six holes of Thursday's opening round will be crucial as he attempts to negotiate the challenging Metropolitan Golf Course, and keep up with his crowd-pulling tee partners.

Ruffels said he will need to come to the realisation that "hey, this is really happening" as soon as possible. "I'll definitely be very nervous," he said.

"It will be new for me. There will be crowds running around all over the place, cameramen trying to get shots. It's going to be hard, but that's part of it all."

Coming to grips with the fact that Scott in particular is now a competitor, not a hero, will also be part of the mental battle.

"I remember it so vividly, him becoming the first Australian to win the Masters," he said.

"You just kind of see him as a hero from then on. You don't ever think about getting the chance to play golf with him, like just in practice let alone a tournament."

As if the date with Scott wasn't enough, Ruffels played a "warm-up round" with Stuart Appleby on Tuesday, a nine-time winner on the USPGA Tour, and another member of Australian golfing royalty.

While admitting he's not the "best picker of talent", Appleby said he had discussed Ruffels with former Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge, who had a connection with the youngster via his father, Ray, a three-time Australian Davis Cup representative, and later the head of the Australian Institute of Sport's tennis program.

"He said 'I think he's a real talent'," Appleby recalled of his conversation with Woodbridge.

"And I asked him from the mental side of things. Todd would be the first to criticise. But he was like 'no, this kid is good'."

Watching Ruffels up close on Tuesday, Appleby said it dawned on him that "kids are getting so much better so much quicker".

"He's a great talent and even better he's a great kid.

"And if he carries himself anything like Adam Scott does, he will be great for golf in his country," Appleby said.

"It's great, I'll get my rocking chair in 20 years' time and turn around and go 'I remember playing with that kid'."