Facts and Figures
First played:
1912 (part of The European Tour since 1972)
Most wins:
Angel de la Torre, 6: 1916, 17, 19, 23, 25, 35
Most consecutive wins:
Angel de la Torre, 3: 1916, 17, 19
Youngest winner:
Dale Hayes, 18 and 290 days, 1971
Oldest winner:
Arnold Palmer, 45 and 221 days, 1975
Lowest 18 hole score:
61 (-9), Wayne Riley, 1988
Lowest first 18 hole score:
63 (-9), Seve Ballesteros, Eduardo Romero, 1991
63 (-7), Mark James, Richard Boxall, 1988
Lowest 36 hole score:
127 (-13), Richard Boxall, 1988
Lowest 54 hole score:
194 (-16), Mark James, 1988
Lowest 72 hole score:
262 (-18), Mark James, 1988
Lowest under par winning score:
267 (-21), Thomas Björn, 1998, Jarmo Sandelin, 1999
Wire-to-wire-winners:
None
Largest winning margin:
8 shots, Sam Torrance, 1982
Biggest final round comeback by a winner:
7 shots, Bernhard Langer, 1984
Play-offs:
Antonio Garrido beat Valentin Barrios, 1972
Eduardo Romero beat Seve Ballesteros, 1991
Mark James beat Greg Norman, 1997
Holes-in-one:
Ten
Low cut:
140 (-4), 1998
High cut:
153 (+9), 1987
INTERESTING FACTS:
The event is rich in history and was first staged in 1912, making it the fifth oldest National Open in Europe. However, it was the first official event of The European Tour International Schedule on April 12-15, 1972. History was created in the 1971 Spanish Open by Dale Hayes. Not only did he win on his first official European Tour start, but at aged 18 and 290 days, became the youngest ever winner of a European Tour event. Second is Seve Ballesteros, aged 19 and 121 days (1976 Dutch Open), then Paul Way, 19 and 149 days (1982 Dutch Open), fourth comes Sergio Garcia, 19 and 176 days (1999 Murphy's Irish Open). The last teenager to win was Aaron Baddeley, 19 and 331 days (2001 Greg Norman Holden International Open). Nick Faldo is sixth aged 20 and 20 days (1977 Skol Lager Individual).
