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Age Always An Issue

In several sports, governing bodies force phenoms to wait until they reach a certain age before they can compete at the highest level. In September 2001, a few months before Tryon earned his Tour card, the PGA instituted a rule that players had to be 18 to be full tour members. Younger players could use sponsor's exemptions and keep prize money, but no winnings would be counted on the money list. Tryon had to wait until he turned 18, in June 2002, to play a full schedule. The LPGA has a similar rule, but it was waived in 2005 for Morgan Pressel, who received full membership three months before her 18th birthday. In tennis, the WTA allows young teens to play in some pro tournaments but limits full tour membership to those 18 and older. The ATP allows players to enter as many tournaments as they wish once they turn 16.

In Olympic gymnastics, athletes are supposed to be at least 16. Late last month, The New York Times uncovered online records that suggest two Chinese gymnasts slated to compete in the Olympics may only be 14. Chinese officials responded to the story by producing passports that say He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan are 16, but questions have persisted. The Times obtained two online records of official registration lists that listed He's birthday as Jan. 1, 1994. He is a favorite to win gold in the uneven bars.

Why would anyone want such a young child competing at such a high level? Nellie Kim, a five-time gold medalist from the former Soviet Union, told the Times younger gymnasts may have a physical advantage because they are lighter and a mental advantage because they are less aware of the danger inherent in some routines. "It's easier to do tricks," Kim told the Times. "And psychologically, I think they worry less."

Logan Ruffin, meanwhile, will have to wait until 2012 before he can race a Craftsman Series truck, a Nationwide Series car or a Sprint Cup car -- unless NASCAR changes the rules and installs a 21-year-old age limit for Sprint Cup. That wouldn't sit well with current star Kyle Busch, who was 16 when NASCAR passed the 18-year-old age limit in 2002. Busch, who leads the Sprint Cup standings at age 22, has said any driver who can prove his mettle on the track should be allowed to race. Rick Ruffin, meanwhile, said he is content to let Logan wait if NASCAR decides to raise the age limit. "That's OK if they do," Rick says. "If that's the rule, that's the rule."

Besides, the Ruffins have been dealing with a driving age limit for years. Logan recalled a conversation with another driver in Florida earlier this year. "He said, 'You're going out there and beating our butts on the racetrack, and you can't even drive yourself here,'" says Logan, who wouldn't mind a Roush Mustang or a Mazda RX-8 when he finally can get his driver's license. Meanwhile, Rick worries more about Logan driving the speed limit on Interstate 65 than he does about him hurtling around a speedway.

"I watch him go around a racetrack at 150 mph because I know what safety equipment he has," Rick said. "In a street car, without all that equipment, I worry about the other people on the road ... But he'll be a very good defensive driver."

"What They Were Put On This Earth To Do"

Rick Ruffin knows people will read about Logan's life and assume that Rick is some frustrated former racer living vicariously through his son. That isn't true, Rick said. Rick knew next to nothing about race cars until Logan began rocketing through the ranks. Now, Rick and Shelley Ruffin try to give Logan as normal an upbringing as possible while allowing him the chance to reach an elite level in his chosen sport. Unfortunately, there isn't exactly a how-to book for the situations the Ruffins face.

"You try to start with the basics. You make them a good person, and you try to protect them," Rick says. "Then you let them do what they were put on this earth to do. In Logan's case, that's drive a race car."

Though his world ranking might not reflect it at the moment, Ty Tryon still believes he was put on this earth to whack a golf ball. He believes his work the past few months with swing coach Ji Kim has strengthened his game to the point where he can begin his climb back to the PGA Tour. And despite the heartache and the barbecuing he took in the press during his formative years, he wouldn't change his decision to turn pro so young. Golf allowed him to see the world, and it taught him about himself.

Tryon would, however, offer some advice to his younger self that he didn't learn until he found himself responsible for another life. Tryon at 24 would tell Tryon at 18 to keep a tight circle of trusted friends. He also would tell himself not to worry so much about the last round. Worry more about the big picture.

"For the past couple of years, I underachieved probably because I just kind of sabotaged myself -- maybe it was negative memories of being so popular," Tryon says. "For whatever reason, having a child really changes that. You get out of your own head."

Tryon believes he will return to the Tour and that the lessons he learned as a teen will help him stick around longer this time. Then, after about 15 or 20 years of sustained success, Tryon may re-examine his life phenom. "One day," he said, "I'll probably write a book."