There was a time not too long ago when England was almost a guarantee of success for Spanish golf on the DP World Tour. The data is irrefutable. No less than 25 victories were achieved on English soil between 1977 and 2008. There aren’t many places that have been better for the Armada if we focus solely on the European Circuit. In fact, ahead of it, we only have Spain, of course, with 48 victories, practically double.
The love affair began early. Antonio Garrido was the first to claim victory on 14 May 1977, conquering the Benson & Hedges International Open. Two weeks later, Manuel Piñero won the Penfold PGA Championship at the legendary Royal St George’s, and closing the three victories of that year was none other than Seve Ballesteros, lifting the title at the Uniroyal International Championship. From there, many successes followed. One tournament was won in 1978, two in 1979, another three in 1980, one victory in 1982, two more in 1983, another in 1984, two in 1986, one in 1988, one in 1990, two in 1991, two in 1996, one in 2000, another in 2003, and two in 2008. The last victory, interestingly, was by Gonzalo Fernández Castaño at The Belfry, in the British Masters, which is why, as a former champion, the Madrid native is playing this week. It is the only
That is to say, 17 years have passed since the last triumph on English soil. It is true that not as many tournaments are played there as in the early years of the European circuit, but every year there is at least one event at Wentworth and usually one more. Before this long drought, the longest period without a victory in England for Spanish golf was those six years between 1994 and 2000.
As for the victories, obviously Seve Ballesteros, the great genius, takes the lead. The Cantabrian won eleven times in England, and that’s not counting his five wins in the Match Play held in London, which the European circuit does not consider official. He is followed by Manuel Piñero and José María Olazábal with three each, while Antonio Garrido and José María Cañizares have two each. With a single victory are Pepín Rivero, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Nacho Garrido, and Gonzalo Fernández Castaño. In total, there are 25 victories with nine different players. The 17 years that have passed since 2008 already seem many.
The most successful DP World Tour tournament on English soil for Spanish golf is the current BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. It has changed sponsors, but it has a beautiful history with the Spaniards. It has been won by Manuel Piñero, Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal, Ignacio Garrido, and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
For the goal of achieving the 26th victory in England on the DP World Tour, we have a strong Armada there: Eugenio Chacarra, Joel Moscatel, Gonzalo Fernández Castaño, Pablo Ereño, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Alejandro del Rey, Manu Elvira, Jorge Campillo, Iván Cantero, Nacho Elvira, Alfredo García Heredia, Ángel Hidalgo, Ángel Ayora, and Albert Boneta.
PS: We insist that we are only talking about the DP World Tour. For example, if we include other main circuits, then it would be 26 victories counting Jon Rahm’s last year in LIV Golf. Additionally, if we count the PGA Tour, then Spanish golf has achieved more victories in the United States (34), with Seve, Sergio, Olazábal, and Rahm than in England. That is why we clarify that we are only talking about DP World Tour statistics.
