"I’m just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!": Josh Rock emulates Rory McIlroy in Austrian Darts Open success

Josh Rock claimed the Austrian Darts Open title on Sunday evening. The Northern Irishman was crowned champion of the prestigious Austrian Darts Open in Graz after defeating Dutchman Kevin Doets 8–6 in a superbly high-quality final. For Rock, it marked his second European Tour title and his first in two years.

Amid all the top Premier League names deciding to skip this weekend, he decided not to and his decision paid dividends. Rock started the weekend strongly at the Austrian Darts Open and looked in top form from his very first match. In his opening game against Patrik Kovacs, he produced a very solid display and won 6–3. He was deadly on the doubles.

But by contrast on finals day, it was a bit more of a bumpier road. In the Last 16, he survived three match darts against Niko Springer before edging through in a deciding leg. Rock then saw off Cristo Reyes as despite a brilliant 170 checkout it was a 6-4 success for 'Rocky'. In the semi-finals, Rock then faced World Cup partner Daryl Gurney. While many expected a close contest, Rock impressed with an incredibly dominant performance. Averaging over 100, he cruised to a convincing 7–3 victory.

Both players began nervously, with four breaks of throw in the opening legs. Doets then briefly appeared to take control thanks to a brilliant 11-darter that gave him a 3–2 lead. Rock responded with a 170 to turn it in his favour. One that turned the final heavily in his favour and he emulated Rory McIlroy in the other tournament, the Masters which features a green jacket.

This one though he can keep while McIlroy's is kept at Augusta so he has one up on him like that. But it nearly wasn't the way as Doets hit back making it 6-6. The momentum seemed to swing back and Rock broke with a 78 checkout but he then wrapped up the title with a 14-darter. He hit a 101 average in the final.

“I’m very relieved,” confessed Rock. "To come here this weekend and win is a massive achievement. I’m just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!

But it was also relief as he'd previously been beaten in the final and the semi-final. He has had a lot of success in Austria but never claimed the jacket. “I made my first final against Jonny [Clayton] here, and when he got the jacket I was kind of jealous. Then Martin [Schindler] beat me last year in the semi-final and won it, so I was determined to win it this year, and I’m happy I finally got it.

He was also full of praise for Doets who this week alone has won a ProTour and reached a European Tour final so has continued his utterly brilliant form. "Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year, and he has proved it by winning his first ProTour on Monday. He’s only going to keep winning more, I’m just grateful I got the edge against him in this one.”