Josh Rock claimed his second European Tour title by defeating Kevin Doets 8-6 in a thrilling Austrian Darts Open final, earning the traditional green jacket and £35,000 in prize money.
The Northern Irishman, who lost the final in Graz to Jonny Clayton three years ago, averaged 101.56 and delivered a match-defining 170 checkout to fend off the in-form Dutchman on Sunday night.
Despite currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League Darts table, Rock kept his composure to capture the coveted green jacket, a hallmark of this event.
“I’m very relieved,” Rock said after the match. “I made my first final here against Jonny, and when he got the jacket, I was kind of jealous. Martin Schindler beat me in the semi-final last year and won it, so I was determined to win it this year. I’m happy I’ve finally got it.”
The victory comes just weeks after fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy secured his second Masters title in golf. Rock added: “Titles are very hard to win nowadays in any respect because the standard is that good. To come here this weekend and win is a massive achievement. I’m just happy because two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!”
In a tightly contested final, the crucial moment came when Rock nailed a 170 checkout in the seventh leg to break Doets’ throw and take a 4-3 lead. However, Doets responded with a 90 checkout to break back in the 12th leg, leveling the match at 6-6 after Rock missed single 20 and a chance at tops.
But the Dutchman failed to hold his nerve in the next leg, missing an 80 checkout. Rock seized the opportunity, hitting double 12 to break back immediately and move within a leg of the title. He then held throw in the decisive leg, checking out 60 on tops before roaring in celebration as he sealed his second European Tour win since the 2024 Dutch Darts Championship.
Earlier, Rock reached the final with a 7-3 victory over fellow Northern Irish player Daryl Gurney, featuring three ton-plus checkouts, including a match-clinching 145. He also overcame Saturday’s nine-dart hero Cristo Reyes 6-4 in the quarter-finals, following a nail-biting 6-5 win over Niko Springer in the last 16, where he survived match darts from his German opponent.
Doets had an impressive day, beating Ryan Joyce 6-2 in the afternoon session, then averaging over 112 with a 170 checkout in a 6-3 quarter-final victory over Luke Woodhouse. He then defeated former world champion Rob Cross 7-3 in the semi-finals, finishing with a brilliant 124 checkout. Cross had earlier eliminated Michael van Gerwen in the last 16.
Doets is currently ranked 33rd in the PDC Order of Merit.
