How did experience factor into Mammoth’s first playoff run?
How Experience Shaped Utah Mammoth's First Playoff Run
Kristoffer Reitan won his first PGA Tour title at the Truist Championship, utilizing a 7-wood approach and key putts on the back nine. He is the second Norwegian to win on tour, following Viktor Hovland.
A timely 7-wood approach on the last par 5 and several big putts on the back nine catapulted Kristoffer Reitan to his first PGA Tour title at the Truist Championship. The second Norwegian to win on tour (after Viktor Hovland), Reitan outlasted a host of others, including Rickie Fowler, who was very much in the mix until a bogey at the last.
Quail Hollow has held major championships, meaning it is a course that tests all facets of your game. Reitan responded by being proficient in all of them, ranking fifth in strokes gained off/the-tee, ninth in strokes gained/approach and second in strokes gained/putting, picking up more than a combined 11 strokes on the field.
A key stretch came on Nos. 14 and 15, where Reitan produced an up-and-down from the sand for birdie on the short 14th then hoisting a 7-wood from 239 yards to 55 feet and making an impressive two-putt for a birdie that provided the winning margin.
Reitan’s 7-wood is a Ping G440 Max. The 21-degree head’s adjustable hosel brings the loft down to 19.25 degrees. Off the tee, he wields Ping’s new G440 K with the 9-degree head actually slightly higher loft at 9.2 degrees. The shaft is a Mitsubishi 1K White 60 TK at 45.5 inches in length. It was the first week the driver was in Reitan’s bag in competition.
falsePingG440 K$705|Golf Galaxy 5.0 GD SCOREGD HOT LIST SCOREHot List Gold$705The previous version offered extreme forgiveness. This upgrade adds a 32-gram adjustable weight that can shift among draw, neutral and fade settings.The ultra-stability comes by repositioning weight saved from light carbon-composite sections that wrap around the crown and fill a large piece of the sole plate.Saving weight also frees up more mass that sits lower in the head to drop the center of gravity. This reduces excessive spin for a more energetic ball flight.Ping’s largest looking driver at address also pushes forgiveness to new levels: It was the highest MOI we charted at this year’s Hot List, checking in with a total MOI over 10,200.Internal ribs that stretch the width of the sole and throughout the carbon-composite crown calm vibration to produce a more muted, solid sound.Like the other models in the G440 family, the new face design features a thinned-out section in the high heel to produce even more consistent ball speed.MOI rating: ExtremeTop 5 in Sound/Feel, high-handicaps9, 10.5, 12 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)BUY NOW
Reitan used a Ping G440 Max 7-wood and a new Ping G440 K driver, which contributed significantly to his performance.
He ranked fifth in strokes gained off the tee, ninth in strokes gained approach, and second in strokes gained putting, gaining over 11 strokes on the field.
Reitan outlasted several competitors, including Rickie Fowler, who bogeyed the last hole.
How Experience Shaped Utah Mammoth's First Playoff Run
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On the greens Reitan uses a custom Ping PLD Ally Blue H mallet. The putter is 37 inches in length and has a 17-inch Ping Superstroke Tour 1.0P grip to counter balance the weight of the head. The white finish features the company’s EYEQ alignment tech found on the company’s Scottsdale Tec putter line. Like the driver, the putter was a new addition to the bag this week.
Talk about timely changes.
What Kristoffer Reitan had in the bag at the 2026 Truist Championship
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: Ping G440 K, 9 degrees
3-wood: Ping G440 Max, 15 degrees
7-wood: Ping G440 Max, 21 degrees
Irons 4-9): Ping Blueprint S
Wedges: Ping s259 (46, 50, 54, 58 degrees)
Putter: Ping PLD Ally Blue H