Kota Kaneko became the newest first-time DP World Tour winner this season with victory at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.
Key facts: Kota Kaneko's victory at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol
• His maiden DP World Tour title comes in his 12th start
• He is now exempt on the DP World Tour through to the end of the 2028 season
• Won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in 2025 as he topped its Order of Merit to earn his DP World Tour card for the 2026 season
• Becomes the ninth first-time DP World Tour winner this season
• Climbs to 11th on the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World on 1,048.49 points, up from 48th
• Having finished tied second at the Soudal Open a week earlier, he jumps to first on the European Swing Rankings on 778 points, up from sixth
• Moves to a career-high 101st on the Official World Golf Ranking, up from 173nd
• He is the first player from Japan to win Austria's national open
• Claims the ninth win by a player from Japan on the DP World Tour and first since Yuto Katsuragawa at the ISPS Handa Championship in 2024
