Norwegian golfer Kristoffer Reitan has officially arrived on the PGA Tour, claiming a stunning victory at the Truist Championship in just his 12th Tour start. The 28-year-old shot a final-round 69 at Quail Hollow on May 10 to finish at 15-under 269, two shots clear of Rickie Fowler (65) and Nicolai Hojgaard (68). The win came after Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of Matt Fitzpatrick, double-bogeyed the par-3 17th, handing Reitan a one-shot lead he never relinquished.
"I don't have any words," Reitan said after the win. "This is way more than I expected. For this to happen this quickly is unreal. A dream come true."
Born in Oslo, Reitan is only the second Norwegian to win on the PGA Tour, following Viktor Hovland. He also became the second Norwegian to win on the DP World Tour, again trailing Hovland. Reitan earned his spot in the Truist field through the Aon Swing 5 rankings, coming off a T14 at the Cadillac Championship and a T2 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Off the course, Reitan comes from an impressive family. His grandfather, Odd Reitan, is a billionaire businessman and CEO of the Reitan Group, a Norwegian conglomerate with three business areas: Reitan Retail, Reitan Real Estate, and Reitan Kapital. The company generated roughly $10 billion in revenue in 2022 and employs 38,000 people across Scandinavia and the Baltic region. Reitan's younger sister, Viktoria, is an alt-pop artist performing as "bby ivy" and is considered a rising star in Norwegian music.
After finishing eighth in the Race to Dubai rankings last season, Reitan moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to be closer to Hovland and fellow Norwegian Kris Ventura. Hovland is building a home in Jupiter, while Ventura lives in Palm Beach Gardens. The trio regularly practices together as "Team Norway" at Panther National in Palm Beach Gardens.
For fans looking to channel their inner champion, this victory is a reminder that hard work, family support, and the right gear can make all the difference on the course.