Kristoffer Reitan secures breakthrough PGA Tour success as Alex Fitzpatrick fades at Quail Hollow

Alex Fitzpatrick’s bid to cap a remarkable first three weeks on the PGA Tour with his first individual win were ended by a devastating double bogey at the penultimate hole of the Truist Championship. The Sheffield golfer, winner of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event with older brother Matt, began the day with a one-shot lead but endured a roller-coaster of a final round. That was encapsulated on the 17th where, having got himself back into contention just one off the pace after a shaky start, he could not find the putting surface of the 211-yard hole in two but almost chipped in for par with his ball grazing the edge of the hole.

Alex Fitzpatrick was left to rue his final-round struggles despite another encouraging performance (Getty) Unfortunately it ran eight feet past and he missed the putt coming back which put paid to his hopes of catching Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan, who shot a 69 to register his maiden PGA Tour win by two from Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and a resurgent Rickie Fowler, who had eight birdies in a round of 65. Fitzpatrick recovered from a nightmare start where he compounded a bogey at the second with a double at the next. He turned in three over for his round but then birdied three of his next four holes to be right in contention until another killer double at 17, eventually finishing fourth on 12 under after a two-over 73.

“It’s still very surreal, I feel like it’s crazy to be disappointed but I’m still disappointed,” said Fitzpatrick, who after a third successive top-10 finish has banked £2m in less than a month with the PGA Championship to come next week. “I got off to a slow start. I felt like I battled really well out there and one bad swing cost me on 17.

” Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood finished in a share of fifth on 11 under after a 69, while Rory McIlroy carded his second 67 of the week for a share of 19th on five under. Brandt Snedeker, meanwhile, won his first PGA Tour event in almost eight years with a one-stroke victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic. Veteran Brandt Snedeker secured his first PGA Tour title in eight years (Getty) The 45-year-old, the United States Presidents Cup captain, last trophy came at the 2018 Wyndham Championship but a five-under 66 saw him post 18-under to edge ahead of compatriot Mark Hubbard and also secure a place at next week’s PGA Championship.