Norway’s traveling supporters aren’t just following the national team around the United States for the 2026 World Cup. They’re treating the whole trip like one long, rowdy tour of American sports. And on Thursday, their parade rolled into a PGA Tour event.
A crowd of red-clad Norwegian fans showed up at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, and did what they’ve been doing at every stop: the Viking Row. They sat in a longboat formation, shoulder to shoulder, and chanted “ro” while rowing in unison to a pounding drumbeat. Golf outlet Skratch caught it on video and posted that the Viking Row had “sailed its way to Cromwell.”
The scene at TPC River Highlands made sense for a couple reasons. For one, Norway had two players in the field: Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Reitan. And the Travelers is known as one of the most fan-friendly events on Tour, the kind of place where a group of rowing Vikings doesn’t feel out of place.
But the real context is the World Cup. Norway is back in the tournament for the first time since 1998, and the fan base is making up for lost time. They’ve already turned up in Boston, New York, and Times Square. They crashed a Mets game at Citi Field. Now they’re weaving golf into the itinerary.
The timing couldn’t be better
Norway plays France on Friday outside Boston in their final group stage match. Both teams are already through to the round of 32, but first place in Group I is on the line. Norway opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Iraq and followed it with a 3-2 victory against Senegal, powered by two goals from Erling Haaland. France is unbeaten. Friday should be a real test.
The Viking Row itself is borrowed from Iceland’s Euro 2016 celebration but Norway has made it their own. It’s become the defining image of this team’s return to the global stage. And it keeps showing up in places no one expected.
Golf was just the latest stop. The oars aren’t going anywhere.
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