Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan earns 2-shot win at Truist Championship for first PGA Tour victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan shot 2-under 69 on Sunday to earn a two-shot win over Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Hojgaard at the Truist Championship for his first victory on the PGA Tour.

Reitan, who chose golf over soccer at a young age, won twice previously on the European Tour. He finished at 15-under 269.

“This feeling is just unreal,” Reitan said.

Alex Fitzpatrick, the third-round leader, finished three shots back after shooting 73.

Reitan, a PGA Tour rookie who started the round one shot behind Fitzpatrick, was even par for the day after 13 holes and one shot behind Fowler, who surged to the lead after shooting 30 on the front nine.

But Fowler, who started the day seven shots behind, couldn’t sustain the momentum.

Playing four groups ahead of the leaders, Fowler missed a 6-foot birdie putt on 16, opening the door for Reitan, Fitzpatrick, and Hojgaard to pull into a four-way tie for the lead after all three made birdie.

Fowler had a chance down the stretch, but his approach shot on the 18th hole landed in the thick rough on the left side of the green and his chip came out short leading to bogey, all but ending his chances.

Reitan took the lead for good with a two-putt birdie on 15 after Fitzpatrick’s wedge got caught up in the thick rough and his chip barely made the fringe, leading to a costly par on the par 5.

Hojgaard made bogey on 16 to fall two shots back.

Fitzpatrick faltered on 17 as his chip from the rough never made the green resulting in a double bogey, taking him out of contention.

Reitan played the final three holes of the Green Mile in even par and secured the win with a par on 18.

Reitan’s best previous finish was a tie for second last month at the Zurich Classic when he and playing partner Kris Ventura lost by one stroke to Fitzpatrick and his brother, Matt.

It was a hugely disappointing day for Cameron Young, the world’s No. 3 player.

Looking for his second straight PGA win after a victory last week at Doral, Young started the day just two shots off the lead but had a double bogey on the second hole and never recovered with just one birdie the rest of the day.

He finished with a 74 and tied for 10th, six shots behind.