Kristoffer Reitan has become only the second Norwegian golfer to secure a PGA Tour victory, following in the footsteps of Viktor Hovland.
Truist Championship: Final Leaderboard
-15 K Reitan (Nor); -13 N Hojgaard (Den), R Fowler (US); -12 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -11 JJ Spaun (US), SJ Im (Kor), T Fleetwood (Eng)
Selected others: -10 H Hall (Eng); -9 C Young (US); -5 R McIlroy (NI); -2 M Wallace (Eng); -1 J Rose (Eng); +1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +2 R MacIntyre (Sco)
Alex Fitzpatrick’s aspirations for a maiden PGA Tour title were thwarted as Kristoffer Reitan secured victory at the Truist Championship on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick of England entered the final round holding a one-stroke advantage over Reitan. However, the Norwegian golfer ultimately clinched a two-shot victory at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Reitan, 28, carded a two-under round of 69, finishing at 15 under par overall. Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark and Rickie Fowler of the United States shared second place.
Fitzpatrick concluded the tournament one stroke further back after a round of 73, which included a bogey and a double bogey within the first three holes.
The 27-year-old rallied to reach level par with a fourth birdie on the 13th hole, briefly tying for the lead.
A four-way tie emerged at the summit of the leaderboard on the back nine. While others faltered, Reitan maintained composure to secure the win in only his 15th PGA Tour start.
Fitzpatrick previously won the Zurich Classic alongside his older brother, Matt, last month, earning him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Prior to his second double bogey on the par-three 17th, Fitzpatrick had also achieved a top-10 finish at the Cadillac Championship, placing him just one stroke behind Reitan.
Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at 11 under par, closing with a two-under 69.
Fitzpatrick, ranked 120th in the world, told Sky Sports, “It’s still very surreal [to be in contention]. It’s crazy to feel disappointed, but I still am.”
“I’m happy for Kris, he deserves it, and hopefully it’ll be mine another time.”
Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked fourth globally, concluded the tournament at one-over par after a final round of 72, while Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland rebounded from a 75 on Saturday to finish at five under with a 67.
‘Good business’ for PGA Tour if LIV players return – McIlroy