Kristoffer Reitan has come into his own as a rookie on the PGA Tour.
Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA | If Kristoffer Reitan isn’t yet a household name among American golf fans – his name recognition took a giant leap forward Sunday with his two-stroke victory in the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club – here are a few things worth knowing about him:
Frustrated by his lack of professional progress, Reitan briefly entertained the notion of becoming a YouTube golf personality before recommitting himself to finding his way on the DP World Tour, where he won twice last year to earn his 2026 PGA Tour card.
A 28-year-old native of Oslo, Norway, Reitan’s grandfather is one of the most successful businessmen in the country, operating a conglomerate that includes a major grocery store chain.
And Reitan had been steadily stalking his breakthrough moment, which came when he shot 69 on Sunday, finishing at 15-under-par 269, two better than Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Højgaard and three ahead of Alex Fitzpatrick.
He tied for second with his Norwegian partner Kris Ventura at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans late last month, which allowed him to slip into the signature Cadillac Championship at Doral, where he finished T14 two Sundays ago.
Reitan didn’t originally think he was in the field at Doral but got in when Jake Knapp withdrew. He also thought a double bogey on the 72nd hole at Doral had cost him a spot in the Truist field but he got in via the tour’s Aon Swing 5 and now he has all the perks that come with winning a signature event.
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“Absolutely over the moon. Happened way sooner than I would have imagined,” Reitan said.
While a handful of players jostled for the lead – Sungjae Im, a late-charging Harry Hall, Fitzpatrick, Fowler and Højgaard chief among them – Reitan was the steadiest presence, playing his final 12 holes in 3-under par as scoring became more difficult on the warm, sunny afternoon.
Birdies at 14 and 15 – two of Quail Hollow’s most scoreable holes – ultimately separated Reitan, who then handled the infamous Green Mile finish without a misstep thanks to a 12-foot par-saving putt on 16.
“I just knew that it’s a different beast coming in those last three holes, so I knew I needed to step up and hit some good golf shots and definitely not start relaxing at that point, knowing that the tournament is almost over and all that,” Reitan said.
“So I was definitely on it mentally the whole way and very, very clear about the fact that some very, very difficult golf shots are coming up.”
If Reitan is still making a name for himself on the PGA Tour, Alex Fitzpatrick – whose spirited run was undone by a double bogey at the par-3 17th – has known him and played against him for more than a decade.
“He’s a great player. He’s obviously coming into some form over the past couple years. But it’s great to see,” Fitzpatrick said.
“He’s a really, really nice lad and I have nothing but good things to say about him.”
As for becoming a familiar presence on PGA Tour leaderboards, Reitan isn’t a stranger any longer.
“I came from the DP World Tour where people were starting to recognize me as a good player and then I came over here and I had to start from scratch. I had that feeling that no one had any idea who I was. So I had to earn it, and I hope this is a way of doing that,” Reitan said.
“It’s been cool the last few weeks to suddenly see people in the crowd shouting my name. So, yeah, that’s been cool, for sure. It all comes with time. If I play well enough, then, yeah, the galleries will know who I am if I play well enough.”
Ron Green Jr.
