Northern Ireland's Josh Rock is once again celebrating a European Tour victory, and this time, he's got the green jacket to prove it. The 25-year-old from Broughshane ended a nearly two-year title drought on the European stage with a hard-fought 8-6 win over Kevin Doets in the final of the Austrian Darts Open on Sunday.
Rock's path to glory in Graz was nothing short of dramatic. After navigating past Patrik Kovacs on Saturday, he faced a nail-biting quarterfinal against Niko Springer, surviving three match darts to win in a last-leg decider. He then dispatched Cristo Reyes before setting up an all-Northern Irish semifinal against Daryl Gurney, which Rock won 7-3.
In the final, the action was electric from the start. The first four legs were shared, with both players exchanging breaks of throw. Doets edged ahead with an 11-darter, but Rock responded in style, rattling off three consecutive legs—including a spectacular 170 checkout. The Dutchman fought back, punishing a Rock checkout error to level the match at 6-6.
But Rock showed the composure of a champion, breaking Doets with a clinical 78 checkout before sealing the title with a 14-dart leg on his own throw. The victory earned him the £35,000 top prize and the tournament's iconic green jacket.
"I'm very relieved," Rock said after the match. "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!" he joked, referencing fellow countryman Shane Lowry's famous green jacket win at the 2019 Open Championship.
Rock admitted the jacket had been a personal goal since losing the 2023 final to Jonny Clayton. "When he got the jacket, I was kind of jealous. Then Martin Schindler beat me last year in the semifinal and won it, so I was determined to win it this year. I'm happy I finally got it."
He also had high praise for his opponent. "Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year. He 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."
For fans of the sport, Rock's victory is a reminder of the incredible depth of talent in darts today. And for those looking to channel their own winning mindset, a fresh set of darts or a stylish new shirt might be just the ticket to hitting those 170 checkouts of your own.