Kristoffer Reitan continued his impressive rise with a composed performance at The Masters Tournament, carding a 4-under 68 in the second round to move into a tie for seventh at the Augusta Masters. The Norwegian rookie now sits eight shots behind defending champion Rory McIlroy but remains just two strokes off second place after 36 holes.
Reitan's round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on the back nine, marking another step forward just days after his career-best PGA Tour finish, a tied 10th at the Texas Open. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted, "Exceeded my expectations. "
Reitan's Preparation Ahead Of Augusta Masters
The 28-year-old, part of a record Nordic contingent in this year's field, has taken an unconventional route to golf. Raised in a country known for winter
sports, Reitan instead honed his skills in Spain, where his father introduced him to the game. "I just ended up picking golf at a fairly early age, and that's been my entire life for a long time," he said.
His preparation for the Augusta Masters included multiple practice rounds earlier in the year, following advice from compatriot Viktor Hovland. "That definitely helped," Reitan noted. "I came up just to gain some familiarity with the course and with the place, and to calm down the nerves a little bit by doing that. So I felt like that was a good move. "
Reitan briefly surged into contention after a birdie run starting at the par-3 12th, even getting within a shot of the lead before a late bogey on the 18th. A near-perfect shot on the 16th that struck the flagstick but rolled away denied him another birdie opportunity.
Despite the strong position, Reitan remains realistic about his chances. "No, I'm not thinking about that at all," he said when asked about winning. "Way too much golf to be played. I'm a rookie here, yeah. I'm a rookie on the PGA Tour. I'm just trying to find my feet and my game as well. I'm pretty humble in that regard. "
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