MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Play Golf Myrtle Beach (PGMB), the premier resource for the Golf Capital of the World®, is excited to announce Ryan Ruffels as the winner of The Q at Myrtle Beach. With the victory, Ruffels secures the final spot in the 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, set for May 7-10 at Dunes Golf & Beach Club.
The innovative, two-round competition, which saw eight of the world’s most popular golf creators battle for a PGA TOUR exemption, concluded April 30 in a high-stakes finale at Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club.
Making his debut appearance in the event, Ruffels, an Orlando-based professional golfer with 20 career PGA TOUR starts, leveraged his experience to navigate the pressure-packed finale. Ruffels edged Grant Horvat, who finished second among the field of heavy hitters that included George Bryan IV, who was seeking redemption after a runner-up finish in the inaugural event.
Following a series of intense head-to-head match-play contests during the first round at Rivers Edge Golf Club, four finalists, Ruffels, Grant Horvat, Micah Morris and Luke Kwon advanced to the final round for a stroke-play shootout to determine who claims the exemption and a spot in the tournament field.
Horvat seized early momentum with four consecutive birdies to open his round, but three bogeys before the turn allowed Ruffels to stay within striking distance. Ruffels’ professional experience proved to be the decisive advantage on the back nine, where he remained bogey-free and recorded pivotal birdies on the 14th and 16th holes. While Horvat moved back to even-par with a birdie on the 15th, a bogey on the 17th and a double bogey on the 18th ended his title hopes. Ruffels remained composed to finish with a 1-under-par 71, two strokes ahead of Horvat, who finished with a 1-over-par 73. Kwon and Morris finished T3 after carding scores of 5-over-par 77.
“This is what you dream about when you start creating content, the chance to bridge the gap and prove you can still compete at the highest level,” said Ryan Ruffels. “Playing against competitors like George and Grant with a PGA TOUR spot on the line is a massive adrenaline rush. I’m honored to represent the creator community next week at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.”
Ruffels joins past champions Matt Atkins (2024) and Nathan Franks (2025) as winners of the event. Ruffels will make his return to the PGA TOUR on May 7 when he makes his debut in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
“The Q at Myrtle Beach continues to prove that it is the premier platform for bridging the gap between the worlds of digital and professional golf,” said Kyle Oland, Director of Marketing for Golf Tourism Solutions. “Ryan’s clutch play to come from behind down the stretch demonstrates the level of talent residing in the YouTube golf space. This wasn’t an exhibition; it was a high-stakes battle, and we can’t wait to see Ryan compete against the best in the world at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.”
The Q at Myrtle Beach is a first-of-its-kind competition, generating millions of views and serving as the inspiration for other creator-centric events such as the PGA TOUR’s Creator Classic. Its innovative approach to bridge the gap between professional golf and digital golf creators has been recognized nationally, including being honored with the PGA TOUR’s “Best In-Class Element” award in 2024. Fans can watch the full journey of the 2026 competition on YouTube. The first round is available on Grant Horvat’s channel, while the Championship Round is hosted on the Bryan Bros channel.
For more information, visit www.theqatmyrtlebeach.com.
