"I’m just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!": Josh Rock emulates Rory McIlroy in Austrian Darts Open success
PDC
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.
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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.
Emulating McIlroy
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.
Rock is now ranked world number eight.
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“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.”
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
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