Austrian Open 2026 preview, picks & analysis

Home favourite Sepp Straka returns to Austria for this week’s Austrian Open as the country’s most successful golfer prepares to tee it up on home soil for the first time since 2017. The PGA Tour winner and Ryder Cup star headlines a strong field at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith alongside fellow Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

HOME favourite Sepp Straka is the star attraction at this week’s Austrian Open, where he will be teeing it up on home soil for the first time since 2017.

The 33-year-old Austrian made history in 2022 when he became the first player from his country to win on the PGA Tour and he has since made two appearances for Europe in the Ryder Cup, helping his team to victory in Rome in 2023 and again in New York last year.

Straka has won three further times in the United States since his maiden victory, including twice in 2025 at The American Express and Truist Championship.

The Austrian Open returned to the DP World Tour’s schedule last year, with the event moving to Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith for 2026.

Straka said: “I’m very excited to return to Austria to play in my national open again. It was great to see the event back on the DP World Tour last year, and I’m really pleased that I’m able to include the event in my schedule for 2026.

“It has been a number of years since I last had the chance to play in front of home crowds, and a lot has happened in that time. It’ll be a great opportunity to celebrate that success in front of family, friends and fans, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

He is an unassuming character and is hugely underrated.

Straka turned professional in 2016 and became the first Austrian golfer to earn a PGA Tour card after securing victory on the Web.com Tour and finishing tied third at the 2018 Tour Championship. He claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at The Honda Classic in 2022, becoming the first Austrian winner on the circuit, before adding victories at the John Deere Classic and recording a runner-up finish at The Open in 2023.

Sepp Straka 2016

This season he has finished joint second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, tied eighth at The Players and tied fourth at the Cadillac Championship so he comes home with some form and will clearly start the week as a warm favourite.

Edwin Weindorfer, CEO/Founder Emotion Group/Golf Enterprises, organisers of the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol said: "We have been working for a good six months to bring Sepp to our tournament. Unfortunately, it didn't work out in Salzburg – now a dream is coming true for us. Sepp Straka will be part of our initiative to establish the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel-Tirol as the Hahnenkamm of the summer.

“We are extremely proud to be able to present this figurehead to local golf and sports fans. With this great news, we are starting ticket sales and expect to top the fantastic result from Altentann with around 18,000 fans."

There is also certain to be local interest in the form of another Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger. After a lengthy spell in the golfing wilderness, Wiesberger has returned to the winner’s circle with a stunning three-shot victory at the Volvo China Open. He has also enjoyed top-15 finishes at South African Open, Joburg Open, Turkish Airlines Open and Catalunya Championship so don’t b surprised to see him contending again this week.

Located in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps, Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith previously hosted the HotelPlanner Tour in 2003.

Held for the first time last year since 2021, Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen won his maiden DP World Tour title. The German held off the challenge of his compatriot Marcel Schneider and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan.

Reitan finished with a round of 60, missing a putt on the last for a 59. A week on from coming from nine shots back to win the Soudal Open, Reitan threatened similar when, eight shots off the lead to start the day, the Norwegian caught fire in the final round again.

Reitan turned in 29 after following up birdies at the second and fourth with four in a row from the sixth. He made another birdie on the 11th before pouring in his 34-foot putt on the difficult 12th to make it back-to-back gains and grab a share of the lead on 15 under.

A further birdie at the 15th meant Reitan needed to pick up just two more shots over the last three holes for a 59. The 27-year-old gave himself a good chance for an eagle at the 18th, only for his 26-foot putt to slide just by.

Von Dellingshausen started the day one shot off the lead but found himself three in front after 10 holes thanks to a birdie-eagle-birdie run from the eighth.

The German managed to then par his way home to finish the tournament on 19 under par, two clear of Reitan and Schneider.

Tournament winners

The tournament was held for the first time since 2021 last year and was won by Nicolai von Dellingshausen

The course:

Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith is a par 70 that measures just 6,822 yards and features rolling fairways and breathtaking scenery

Prize money:

Total prize money is $2.75m with 3,500 Race to Dubai points on offer

How to watch:

Thursday, May 28, Friday, May 29, Saturday, May 30, Sky Sports Golf, midday; Sunday, May 31, Sky Sports Golf, 11.30am

Austrian Open Tips & Picks

Form guide:

Sepp Straka is a world-class talent and will relish playing on home soil

To win:

Sepp Straka. Hugely underrated

Each way:

Bernd Wiesberger. Home favourite

Each way:

Ewen Ferguson. Mercurial talent

Five to follow:

Sepp Straka. Would love to win on home soil

Bernd Wiesberger. Back to his best

Ewen Ferguson. Capable of winning anywhere

Martin Couvre. Gifted Frenchman.

Oliver LIndell. Has shown some superb form

Five outsiders to watch:

Eddie Pepperell. Trying to get back on track

Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Hugely entertaining

Scott Jamieson. A battler

Brandon Stone. Proper enigma

Andrew Johnston. Everybody loves Beef!