Former Champion to Play at Kitzbühel

John Catlin, winner of the 2021 Austrian Open, has confirmed his participation in the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open. The American is a three-time DP World Tour winner and former Order of Merit champion of the Asian Tour.

Catlin first achieved DP World Tour status in 2018 after winning three tournaments on the Asian Tour. In 2020, he secured his first victory on the DP World Tour – and did so on an impressive golf course: Catlin won the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters at the famous Real Club Valderrama. Just three weeks later, he secured his second win: Catlin won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Less than seven months later, he claimed his third title: at the 2021 Austrian Golf Open at the Diamond Country Club, the American prevailed in a playoff against Max Kieffer.

Catlin lost his DP World Tour card in 2023, but achieved tremendous success on the Asian Tour the following year. In March 2024, he not only won the International Series Macau title, but also made history with the first 59 on the Asian Tour. In the same year, he won another Asian Tour tournament, was only defeated in the playoffs at two events, and became the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion.

He celebrated another success in 2024 on the LIV Tour, where he made his debut as a reserve player in June and, in August, as a substitute for Graeme McDowell, won the team competition at LIV Golf Greenbier with Smash GC and captain Brooks Koepka.

In 2025, Austria's return to the DP World Tour marked John Catlin's return to Europe. As defending champion, Catlin competed in last year's Austrian Alpine Open at the Gut Altentann Golf Club and achieved a respectable 8th place finish.

This year, he will once again be competing in the Austrian Alpine Open, and spectators in Kitzbühel can look forward to seeing a versatile, experienced player who has already achieved numerous career highlights.