Every European Tour Order Of Merit Winner Since 1937

Rory McIlroy after winning the Race to Dubai

Rory McIlroy has won the trophy six times

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 30 August 2024

Golfers who ply their trade on the European Tour - or DP World Tour as it is currently known - compete every season to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy.

Between 1937 and 1979, it was claimed by the Order of Merit champion based on a points system before switching to the highest amount of prize money earned between 1980 and 2012. From 2013 onwards, it reverted back to points.

Since 2009, the Harry Vardon trophy has predominantly been presented to the winner of the DP World Tour's Race To Dubai - with the season-long competition temporarily being titled the DP World Tour Rankings in 2022.

Colin Montgomerie has the most titles with eight, secured in the span of 12 years. He is two ahead of Seve Ballesteros, who claimed all of his between 1976 and 1991, and Rory McIlroy, whose wins have come between 2012 and 2024.

McIlroy is the favorite to add number seven in 2025. However, he has publicly revealed his desire to reach nine crowns one day.

England's Peter Oosterhuis is next on the list with four, while four players - Lee Westwood, Sandy Lyle, Bernard Hunt, and Bobby Locke - each have four titles.

Another 12 players, including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Bernhard Langer, have won the Harry Vardon Trophy twice.

Below is every single winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy, dating all the way back to the first champion in 1937.

Every Race To Dubai Winner Since 1937

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Year	Winner	Points/Prize Money
1937	Charles Whitcombe	N/A
1938	Henry Cotton	N/A
1939	Reg Whitcombe	N/A
1940-1945	No Award	No Award
1946	Bobby Locke	N/A
1947	Norman Von Nida	N/A
1948	Charlie Ward	N/A
1949	Charlie Ward	N/A
1950	Bobby Locke	N/A
1951	John Panton	N/A
1952	Harry Weetman	N/A
1953	Flory Van Donck	N/A
1954	Bobby Locke	N/A
1955	Dai Rees	N/A
1956	Harry Weetman	N/A
1957	Eric Brown	N/A
1958	Bernard Hunt	N/A
1959	Dai Rees	N/A
1960	Bernard Hunt	N/A
1961	Christy O'Connor Sr	N/A
1962	Christy O'Connor Sr	N/A
1963	Neil Coles	674 points
1964	Peter Alliss	1,940 points
1965	Bernard Hunt	969 points
1966	Peter Alliss	893 points
1967	Malcolm Gregson	N/A
1968	Brian Huggett	919 points
1969	Bernard Gallacher	910 points
1970	Neil Coles	779 points
1971	Peter Oosterhuis	1,293 points
1972	Peter Oosterhuis	1,751 points
1973	Peter Oosterhuis	3,440 points
1974	Peter Oosterhuis	2,965 points
1975	Dale Hayes	17,488 points
1976	Seve Ballesteros	21,495 points
1977	Seve Ballesteros	28,699 points
1978	Seve Ballesteros	47,178 points
1979	Sandy Lyle	39,808 points
1980	Sandy Lyle	£43,346
1981	Bernhard Langer	£81,036
1982	Greg Norman	£66,406
1983	Nick Faldo	£119,416
1984	Bernhard Langer	£139,344
1985	Sandy Lyle	£162,553
1986	Seve Ballesteros	£242,209
1987	Ian Woosnam	£253,717
1988	Seve Ballesteros	£451,560
1989	Ronan Rafferty	£400,311
1990	Ian Woosnam	£574,166
1991	Seve Ballesteros	£545,354
1992	Nick Faldo	£708,522
1993	Colin Montgomerie	£613,683
1994	Colin Montgomerie	£762,720
1995	Colin Montgomerie	£835,051
1996	Colin Montgomerie	£875,146
1997	Colin Montgomerie	£798,948
1998	Colin Montgomerie	£993,077
1999	Colin Montgomerie	€1,822,880
2000	Lee Westwood	€3,125,147
2001	Retief Goosen	€2,862,806
2002	Retief Goosen	€2,360,128
2003	Ernie Els	€2,975,374
2004	Ernie Els	€4,061,905
2005	Colin Montgomerie	€2,794,223
2006	Pádraig Harrington	€2,489,337
2007	Justin Rose	€2,944,945
2008	Robert Karlsson	€2,732,748
2009	Lee Westwood	€4,237,762
2010	Martin Kaymer	€4,461,011
2011	Luke Donald	€5,323,400
2012	Rory McIlroy	€5,519,118
2013	Henrik Stenson	4,103,796 points
2014	Rory McIlroy	7,149,503 points
2015	Rory McIlroy	4,727,253 points
2016	Henrik Stenson	5,289,506 points
2017	Tommy Fleetwood	5,386,955 points
2018	Francesco Molinari	6,041,521 points
2019	Jon Rahm	5,898 points
2020	Lee Westwood	3,128 points
2021	Collin Morikawa	5,856 points
2022	Rory McIlroy	4,754 points
2023	Rory McIlroy	5,296 points
2024	Rory McIlroy	6,997 points

Most European Tour Order Of Merit Wins

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Wins	Player
8	Colin Montgomerie
6	Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy
4	Peter Oosterhuis
3	Lee Westwood, Sandy Lyle, Bernard Hunt, Bobby Locke
2	Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Neil Coles, Peter Alliss, Christy O'Connor Sr, Dai Rees, Harry Weetman, Charlie Ward

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time.