Kristopher Reitan holds off Fowler, Fitzpatrick to win Truist Championship
There are few images in golf that feel more like the beginning to both a dream and nightmare than heading to the Green Mile with a one-shot lead.
The 16th, 17th and 18th holes at Quail Hollow — so destructive they garnered a nickname — are more spine-chilling than a case of the yips. Heading into this week, the Green Mile was the toughest-three hole stretch on the PGA Tour, with golfers averaging nearly a shot over par while splashing almost 2,000 balls into the water since 2003.
So imagine you’re Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan, the 2026 Truist Championship winner by two shots.
It’s just past 5:15 p.m. in Charlotte and you’re walking to the 16th tee with a one-shot lead. A few hours ago, most of the golfing world didn’t know you’re name — which, if you didn’t know, is pronounced RAY-tin.
Heck, even at this moment, 80% of the fans at Quail Hollow are gathered around the 18th green, hoping Rickie Fowler (14-under) hangs on to win. And even the fans following your group are directing their cheers to you’re playing partner, Wake Forest grad Alex Fitzpatrick.
You’ve never won a PGA Tour event. Heck, this is only the 15th PGA Tour event you played in ... and, well, this time last week, you didn’t even know you qualified for the Truist. Somehow, despite double-bogeying the 72nd hole at the Cadillac Championship last week, you finished T-14, just good enough to land an invite to Charlotte.
“Pretty much five minutes after I signed my card (last week),” he said, “that’s when some of the Norwegian reporters were saying that I think you’re in.”
And now you’re standing at the starting line to the Great Mile. There’s water everywhere. And, if you let yourself think that far, a $3.6 million check, another Masters invitation and job security await if you make it to the finish line unscathed.
“I just knew that it’s a different beast coming in those last three holes,” Reitan. “I knew I needed to step up and hit some good golf shots and definitely not start relaxing at that point (or thinking) that the tournament is almost over.”
Reitan won his first PGA Tour event because of what he did on the first 69 holes, shooting 15-under with 19 birdies. But he hung onto it in the last three holes, taking the teeth out of the Green Mile with a par-par-par finish.
The only scare came on 16, when he chipped out of the bunker and had to sink a tricky 12-foot putt to stay ahead. From there, he treated Quail Hollow like a little pitch-and-putt. Safe shots. Easy pars. No stress.
On the par-3 17th, which has water to the left, he landed his ball in the middle of the green and two-putted. Same thing on 18. After blasting his drive down the middle, his approach shot hit the bulls-eye in the 18th green. He hit two easy putts then put his hand over his mouth, shook his head and disbelief and grabbed his ball out of the cup.
Considering what a PGA Tour win means for his career, Reitan’s celebration was wildly subdued. No tears. No fist pumps. No letting his emotions take over — which perhaps explains how he was able to keep his cool on Sunday.
“Maybe not having my loved ones nearby has subdued that a little bit,” he said. “I don’t know if, you know, showing that kind of emotion is a part of who I am.”
Reitan shot a 2-under 71 on Sunday to finish 15-under for the tournament. Among those he bested were Fitzpatrick (4th // 12-under), Nicolai Hojgaard (T-2 // 13-under) and Fowler (T-2 // 13-under), who shot 6-under on Sunday and nearly won the tournament.
Perhaps its fitting that Reitan came out on top Sunday — or, better put: it felt appropriate that he won this week, continuing the legacy of first-time PGA Tour winners breaking through at Quail Hollow.
In the 21 times this tournament has been played in Charlotte, seven first-timers have been victorious. Consider that a third of those champions — including Anthony Kim (2008), Rory McIlroy (2010), Fowler (2012), Max Homa (2019) and Wyndham Clark (2023) — emerged onto the golfing scene right here.
Could Reitan take this win in Charlotte and ascend to greater heights on the PGA Tour? Time will tell, but what’s certain is that Sunday did a whole heck of a lot for his name recognition.
Because for as glorious as Sunday was for Reitan, it was odd for those at Quail Hollow. As the surefire champion strode down the 18th fairway, he might as well have been the club pro. There was no standing ovation, only a few sporadic claps mixed in with folks cheering for Fitzpatrick.
Reitan was not surprised. He also knows that reception may change after Sunday.
“I had that feeling that no one had any idea who I was,” he said. “I (have) to earn it, and I hope this is a way of doing that.”
