Kota Kaneko survives dramatic finish to claim maiden DP World Tour title

Japan's Kota Kaneko captured his maiden DP World Tour title after surviving a dramatic final-round battle to win the Austrian Open by two shots at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith.

The win for Kaneko continued a golden run of form for him on the DP World Tour since he finished in a tie for second at last week's Soudal Open. 

The 23-year-old began the final day holding a one-shot lead at 15-under-par but briefly surrendered top spot after a lacklustre level-par front nine.

Kaneko responded in style on the back nine, producing three birdies in four holes from the 10th to reclaim control of the tournament. 

However, his path to victory was far from straightforward.

A wayward approach at the par-4 15th left him over the back of the green before play was suspended for more than an hour due to lightning in the area. 

When play resumed, Kaneko could only salvage a bogey, dropping him back into a share of the lead.

The decisive moment arrived at the par-3 16th. 

After finding thick rough behind the green, Kaneko's chip looked destined to race past the hole before it struck the flagstick and dropped in for a fortunate birdie (watch below). 

The huge stroke of luck moved him back into the outright lead.

Moments later, American Davis Bryant bogeyed the 18th to hand Kaneko a valuable two-shot cushion heading to the final two holes.

Kaneko parred the 17th before receiving another slice of fortune at the last. 

His tee shot on the par-3 18th flew long and ricocheted off a board behind the green before rolling back across the putting surface and stopping in rough just short of the water hazard.

The Japanese star still had work to do, producing an excellent chip before holing a nerveless three-foot par putt to complete a closing 67 and secure victory on 18-under-par.

"I'm delighted, this is a dream, but just thankful it's over," Kaneko told Sky Sports Golf after sealing the biggest win of his career.

Kaneko, who won twice on the Japan Golf Tour last season, pocketed a first prize of $467,500 for winning the 2026 Austrian Open. 

Bryant and Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia shared second place on 16-under-par, while Austria's Bernd Wiesberger finished a further shot back in a tie for fourth alongside Italy's Gregorio De Leo and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello.

The home crowd had plenty to cheer throughout the week, with Wiesberger, Maximilian Steinlechner and PGA Tour winner Sepp Straka all featuring prominently, although none could mount a final-day charge. 

Wiesberger was the leading Austrian in tied fourth on 15-under, while Steinlechner finished on 14-under and Straka ended the week on 12-under.