It was Japan’s sensational Tour rookie Kota Kaneko shinning the brightest in superbly claiming a maiden DP World Tour title after his two-shot victory at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.
The 23-year-old Land of the Rising 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.
LAND OF THE RISING SUN GOLFER SHINES BRIGHTEST #AustrianAlpineOpen ….
As @DPWorldTour rookie Kota Kaneko, and only having contested just 12 events, secures maiden by two shots
Read: https://t.co/qBcg6LtYLf
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— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 31, 2026
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.”
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.
In the end Kaneko won by two and with Gouveia and Bryant joint second.
Local Austrian hero Bernd Wiesberger shared fourth place at 15-under.
Image – DP World Tour
