Golf
Ranking the Golfers with the Most All-Time European Tour Wins
Don’t be fooled into thinking men’s professional golf revolves just around the PGA Tour. While players can earn a lot in a single tournament, the European Tour, now more formally known as the DP World Tour, has a fabulous history. Yes, there are plenty of examples of players who have graced the PGA Tour and European Tour with distinction, and they were instrumental in shaping the game that it is today.
Tiger Woods of USA//Getty Images
There are golfing icons who have served as inspirations for the next generation group of players, and they have routinely enjoyed success. But who has the most European Tour wins? SportsBoom has trawled through the data and analyzed trends. We’ve shone a light on the players who engineered longstanding European Tour win records, so don’t skip this page!
The Significance of the European Tour
Since the European Tour was revamped and renamed the DP World Tour in 2022, it has extended its reach to incorporate more tournaments worldwide.
Some DP World Tour events are co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, such as the Scottish Open, the traditional precursor to The British Open, one of the game’s four Majors.
Nevertheless, the Middle East and the Far East have taken a more hands-on role in promoting the merits of the DP World Tour, and like the PGA Tour, there isn’t much of an off-season.
Yes, the DP World Tour swings from continent to continent and all roads lead to the DP World Tour Championship in November which is the modern-day equivalent of the European Tour Order of Merit.
Some players have adeptly handled the challenges of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, such as Rory McIlroy, who has reduced his DP World Tour, focussing on the biggest events. Although he doesn’t hold the record for most DP World Tour all-time wins, he has made significant inroads on the circuit during his career, particularly in Dubai.
The All-Time Winners Circle: The Most European Tour victories
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! We’ve analyzed the data and we have revealed the golfers with the most wins on the European Tour. Consistency and longevity during their careers are two cornerstones that helped them reach this carefully created list.
The top European Tour winners were the big movers and shakers in the game. We applied statistics, such as events won, including Majors, but remember, most of the Majors take place in the USA. Nevertheless, they do carry gravitas, and each of them contributes 10,000 points in the Race to Dubai rankings.
All-Time Winners Circle
| Rank | Player | Country | Lifespan | Wins | Majors | Winning Span | Span (years) |
| 1 | Seve Ballesteros (H) | Spain | 1957-2011 | 50 | 5 | 1976-1995 | 20 |
| 2 | Bernhard Langer (H) | Germany | 1957- | 42 | 2 | 1980-2002 | 23 |
| 3 | Tiger Woods (H) | United States | 1975- | 41 | 15 | 1997-2019 | 22 |
| 4 | Colin Montgomerie (H) | Scotland | 1963- | 31 | 0 | 1989-2007 | 19 |
| 5 | Nick Faldo (H) | England | 1957- | 30 | 6 | 1977-1996 | 20 |
Note: These figures have been collated from several authoritative golfing sources. H denotes the players have been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, but the list doesn’t include Tiger Woods who didn’t become a formal member until 2022.
Spotlight on the Icons
Now, that we’ve revealed the best players in European Tour history, it’s time to celebrate their achievements. We have provided a few mini-profiles, so you can see what Tiger Woods’ European Tour record was like.
1 – Seve Ballesteros
The late, great Seve Ballesteros was a joy to watch in full flow. He touched the hearts of fans with his daring and innovative style, and he often wore a cheeky smile.
Indeed, the Spanish maestro remains the most successful player in European Tour history, and he also pocketed a few majors (five to be precise!).
Seve Ballesteros claimed 50 European Tour titles, but perhaps what was more extraordinary was that he won three events on the trot in 1986. As far as golf winning streaks in Europe are concerned, his most consecutive wins record doesn’t appear to be in danger of being broken anytime soon either. A truly gifted star that continues to be talked about today!
2 – Bernhard Langer
At 67 years old, Bernhard Langer continues to defy time and even expectations. The illustrious German can normally be found nowadays tearing it up on the PGA Champions Tour, but he merits his place on this list. Bernhard Langer’s DP World Tour CV is truly exceptional. He actually has 116 professional titles to his name, but 42 of these have come via the European Tour.
He’s also actually had to share titles before, most notably in 2002 at Andalucia Masters with Colin Montgomerie after a play-off was suspended after the course was plunged into darkness.
Langer’s equipment setup is unique, such as his split-gripped putter which he rests just away from his chest, but he has made it work for him, and his longevity has been remarkable.
3 – Tiger Woods
While his participation is limited, Tiger Woods still plays golf. Although he is more fondly remembered for his PGA Tour records, which included five Masters tournament wins, Woods still clocked up 41 wins on the European Tour even if it wasn’t his main focus.
Stunning bunker shots and huge booming drives off the tee left fans in awe, and it’s no surprise he has often been discussed in the GOAT of golf debate alongside Jack Nicklaus.
4 – Colin Montgomerie
Outspoken but an incredible competitor, the number of Colin Montgomerie wins on the European Tour (31) was outstanding.
Montgomerie, who had close to 200 Top 10s in his career, was a legendary figure at the Ryder Cup, holding the winning putt twice in 1997 and 2004. He has also weighed into the conversation over the Ryder Cup, criticising Team USA stars for seeking payment for the 2025 edition that will be held at Bethpage Black in New York.
Oh, and he won the European Order of Merit on eight occasions (based on money won throughout the season) which was more than any other player. In terms of DP World Tour history stats, it is an incredible achievement.
5 – Nick Faldo
Arguably one of the greatest British golfers to grace the game, Nick Faldo’s European Tour record was legendary.
Put to one side his six Major titles, Nick Faldo was often a great frontrunner in the final rounds of European Tour tournaments, and 30 wins would suggest so.
He’s also hosted DP World Tour events, such as the British Masters at the Belfry, underlining the effect he had on the game.
Key Observations
From the aforementioned list, we have shared some key takeaways that are worth noting:
The players featured in our list reached the pinnacle of the European Tour on multiple occasions, and their long-playing spans underlined their appetite for success.
It’s worth noting that the combined number of Majors won by the players indicated a clear correlation between European Tour golf and the world of golf more widely speaking.
Tiger Woods is the only non-European on Top 5, illustrating the European Tour had huge global reach, and was a breeding ground for success.
Conclusion
In summary, the players that made this list are household names, and they reached the pinnacle of the European Tour on multiple occasions.
While Woods might seem a bit of an anomaly, given his main focus was on the PGA Tour, his European Tour record was extraordinary, highlighting his versatility as a golfer.
Along with Ballesteros, Langer, Montgomerie, and Faldo, Woods made an immense contribution to the European Tour, and their collective achievements won’t be forgotten about.
SportsBoom Suggest
While past performance isn’t necessarily everything, golfers with a history of consistently winning on the diverse courses of the DP World Tour often demonstrate adaptability and resilience. These are key traits bettors analyze for tournament outrights and matchups.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.