DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 12, 2026

Kota Kaneko

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Kota, congratulations. You're only the second Japanese player to win the Rookie of the Year award. How proud are you of that achievement?

KOTA KANEKO: First of all, I'm very honoured to receive the award. The first person was Ryo Hisatsune, which is a good friend of mine, same age, and I know him really well. So I'm really happy to be in the same category with him.

Q. How much hard work is going into winning this award?

KOTA KANEKO: I work really hard by taking every tournament step by step in every shot. And worked really hard, and I think this got me to where I am right now.

Q. In the last few years, there's been a number of Japanese players who've won on both tours. Why do you think that is?

KOTA KANEKO: I think the level of play in Japan has gotten better, and a lot of the players want to go overseas to play. I think that helps a lot of players coming out here and playing really well.

Q. How important is it to win an event like this for Japanese golf?

KOTA KANEKO: I wasn't able to play really well today, but I think I need to come out as often every year to play up here and one day win the tournament.

Q. When you won in Austria this year, how big of an achievement was that for you?

KOTA KANEKO: I was really happy winning that tournament, and that gave me big confidence that I knew I could play out here. And from here on, just coming out at the end of the season, playing the two DP tournaments was kind of one of the goals. So I'm happy to be here.

Q. And finally, how nice is it to be here in the finals of the year?

KOTA KANEKO: I'm just so happy. It will be my goal. I'll be happy coming out here every year.