Kaneko claims maiden DP World Tour title in Austria

Kota Kaneko claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in composed style following a two-shot victory at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.

The 23-year-old star, who has a unique swing, topped last season's Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit to earn exemption on the DP World Tour and he has not looked back since.

He has made ten cuts from 12 starts and arrived at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith on the back of a tied for second at last week's Soudal Open.

Kaneko was a picture of consistency with three successive 65s leading into the final round and showed nerves of steel to bounce back from a late hiccup and a 71-minute weather delay to prevail at 18 under par, with Ricardo Gouveia and Davis Bryant finishing in a share of second.

"I just can't believe it, I didn't think I would win and I'm still very surprised," Kaneko said. "I knew I hit it hard, but it went in so I was lucky.

"I knew I hit the board but I knew it didn't go in the water, so I was just happy it didn't find the water.

"I'd like to thank all the fans this week, they've been a big support to help me win this tournament."

King of the mountains in Kitzbühel 👑#AustrianAlpineOpen pic.twitter.com/gYX3Q8k2HR
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 31, 2026

Gouveia made his move at the second to sit alongside Kaneko at 15 under, but he was soon on his own when his Japanese playing partner dropped a shot at the next.

Kaneko hit back with a birdie at the fifth to return to the summit, however, there was a local favourite who had joined them in a three-way tie.

Steinlechner enjoyed two birdie bursts to catapult himself into contention, with a hat-trick of gains from the second before another treble of birdies from the ninth.

He was not the only Austrian to surge up the leaderboard as nine-time DP World Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger followed a birdie at the third with a hat-trick from the sixth to reach 15 under.

SCARY FINISH

Luiten finished his front nine with his third birdie of the day to increase the leadership group to five, only for Gouveia to drain a 15-foot birdie putt to take the outright lead at the same hole.

Gouveia improved to 17 under with a birdie at the tenth, but Kaneko was one behind after following suit.

However, the Portuguese leader got in trouble at the next and could not save par, slipping back alongside Kaneko at 16 under.

Kaneko put his foot on the pedal with a birdie at the 12th before a stunning tee-shot at the par-three 13th. Wiesberger holed a putt from downtown to join Gouveia at 16 under, but the pair were soon two behind.

The Japanese held his nerve from three feet to drain his third birdie in four holes and become the first player to reach 18 under.

Bryant closed the gap to one, following an eagle and four birdies by the 16th, while Kaneko got out of position at the 15th and had a long putt to save par, which he lipped out after the lengthy weather delay.

That meant Kaneko and Bryant were tied at the top at 17 under, but only for one more hole.

Despite finding the rough at the par-three 16th, Kaneko holed his chip shot to regain his one-shot advantage at 18 under.

Bryant bogeyed the last to gift the Japanese a two-shot lead, something he did not throw away.

Kaneko parred his way home, despite a scary finish when he hit the stands behind the green and his ball stopped in the thick rough by the water hazard, to claim his maiden DP World Tour title.