Kristoffer Reitan's unexpected Truist win summed up his pro golf journey

Kristoffer Retian's Truist win was unexpected but perfectly fit his unique journey Getty Images For Kristoffer Reitan, all of this has been unexpected. Standing on the 18th green at Quail Hollow Club, having just outlasted Rickie Fowler and Alex Fitzpatrick to win the Truist Championship , a PGA Tour Signature Event, it was hard for Reitan to sum up a career-changing win, one that perfectly gels with his unique golf journey. It wasn’t long ago that the Norwegian put the clubs down.

Golf no longer brought him happiness, only despair. With the spark that used to bring him so much joy extinguished, Reitan contemplated his next move. He thought about venturing into the YouTube golf waters or perhaps ditching golf totally.

Then, a few months later, Reitan discovered that the spark wasn’t gone; it just needed to be stoked. He picked the clubs up when he wanted to, at his own pace. He played with friends and hit the shots he wanted, when he wanted; the love came back.

He went from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour, and then, a year ago at the Soudal Open, lightning struck and everything changed. Reitan started that Sunday nine shots off the lead. But he made nine birdies in his final 15 holes to shoot a course-record 62 and eventually win in a playoff .