Nobody saw this coming quite this fast. Kristoffer Reitan claimed a maiden PGA Tour victory at the Truist Championship on Sunday, firing a 2-under 69 at Quail Hollow to finish 15-under and win by two shots on only his 15th PGA Tour start.
“I don’t have any words to be honest,” Reitan said. “This is way more than I expected and for it to happen this quickly is just unreal. A dream come true.”
How Did Kristoffer Reitan Win the Truist Championship?
Reitan started the final round one shot behind overnight leader Alex Fitzpatrick. He was level par through 13 holes with Rickie Fowler surging ahead after a stunning front nine 30.
Here’s the thing though. Fowler could not sustain the momentum.
Fowler missed a 6-foot birdie putt on 16, allowing Reitan, Fitzpatrick, and Nicolai Hojgaard to birdie and create a four-way tie at the top. Reitan then took the lead for good on the par-5 15th, hitting his iron onto the green and two-putting for birdie.
Fitzpatrick’s challenge fell apart on 17 when his chip from thick rough never reached the green, leading to a double bogey. Hojgaard made bogey on 16 to fall two back. Fowler’s hopes ended with a bogey on 18 after his approach found the deep rough.
Reitan played the closing Green Mile in even par to seal the win.
What Happened to Alex Fitzpatrick
It was a heartbreaking day for Alex Fitzpatrick. The 27-year-old entered the final round with a one-shot lead but started with a bogey and double bogey in his first three holes.
He battled back brilliantly, making four birdies to reach level par and share the lead on the back nine.
“I was three over through three and in my head I’m thinking I could shoot 81 here,” Fitzpatrick said. “I was super happy that I was very patient.”
But one bad swing on the 17th ended his chances. A second double bogey of the day dropped him back and he closed with a 73 to finish three shots behind Reitan.
“It’s crazy to feel disappointed but I still am,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m happy for Kris, he deserves it, and hopefully it’ll be mine another time.”
Fitzpatrick had previously won the Zurich Classic alongside his brother Matt, earning a two-year PGA Tour exemption.
How Did the Rest of the Field Finish?
- 1st: Kristoffer Reitan, 15-under 269
- T2nd: Rickie Fowler, Nicolai Hojgaard, 13-under
- 4th: Alex Fitzpatrick, 12-under
- T5th: Tommy Fleetwood, 11-under after a closing 69
Fowler shot a brilliant 65 but could not hold on after leading on the back nine. Cameron Young, the world number three and last week’s winner at Doral, had a double bogey on the second hole and never recovered, finishing tied 10th at 9-under after a 74.
Rory McIlroy bounced back from a 75 on Saturday with a final round 67 to finish at 5-under.
The Story Behind Reitan’s Rise
Kristoffer Reitan once had to choose between soccer and golf as a kid. He chose golf, and his parents drove him to Spain every Christmas to practice. On Sunday, he thanked them for everything.
“They have made golf a very, very high priority in our household,” Reitan said. “I couldn’t be more grateful.”
He also previously lost his DP World Tour card, using the time away to rediscover his game and rebuild his belief.
“It helped me find my game again,” he said. “That was definitely a huge thing for me getting back and starting to play some good golf again.”
Reitan had won twice on the DP World Tour before Sunday and his best previous PGA Tour finish was a tie for second at last month’s Zurich Classic, where he and playing partner Kris Ventura lost by one shot to the Fitzpatrick brothers.
Now Kristoffer Reitan has his name on a PGA Tour trophy, and at 28, this feels like just the beginning.
