– Could you approximately tell us how much money Spanish golf has won in prizes throughout the history of the DP World Tour? Yes, it’s a geeky question, but you can’t deny it might come in handy during one of the dinners-lunches-teas-breakfasts we still have ahead of us during these dates. If you want to impress, and at the same time have people look at you with that “this person is a bit odd” face, note this fact: 233,520,622.60 euros. A bit more than 230 million euros between 1972, the year the European Tour was created, and the AfrAsia Mauritius Open that closed the year 2024. Does that seem like a lot or a little to you? Were you surprised?
– Of that total amount, more than thirty percent has been won by just three players. It sounds quick. A total of 391 different Spaniards have participated in at least one tournament valid for the European Tour throughout history. Of those 391, only three accumulate more than a third of the winnings. Surely you won’t fail here… Namely: Sergio García leads the list with more than 30 million, followed very closely, threateningly, by Jon Rahm, with more than 28 million, and closing the podium is the eternal Miguel Ángel Jiménez with more than 24 million. They are the only ones who exceed twenty million in earnings.
– Of the regulars on the DP World Tour in 2025, golfers with a full card, the best placed in this historical earnings list of Spanish golf is Rafa Cabrera Bello, who ended 2024 nearing 16.5 million euros. He occupies the fourth position, far behind Jiménez.
– Of those who have earned some money, the Spanish player who has earned the least in the history of the DP World Tour is José María Roca, with a total of 106.40 euros. He earned it at the Open de España in 1972.
– Next geeky question that could well be thrown at guests during dessert. How many tournaments have Spanish golfers played over these more than 50 years? Any idea? In total, we have had at least one Spanish player in 1,973 different tournaments, in 51 different countries and on 454 golf courses.
– In this history of the DP World Tour, a total of 2,036 tournaments have been held between the Open de España in 1972 and the AfrAsia in 2024. That is, there has been Spanish representation in almost 97 percent of the tournaments. We have only missed 63. The percentage rises above 97 percent if we talk about how many courses in the history of the European Tour have been played by Spanish golfers. We have only missed eleven venues: 454 out of a total of 465.
– New challenge: how many players have played at least one tournament of the DP World Tour? We had agreed that Spaniards were 391, well, that accounts for a bit more than thirty percent of the total. The absolute number of golfers who have participated in the DP World Tour is 10,212. In the end, however you look at it, it’s a super exclusive club. Anyone who has been here, even if only once, has the right to feel more than proud.
– Which country has the highest number of participants in the DP World Tour? It will surprise you, although you will quickly come to the explanation yourselves. At first glance, the average person would say England, and they wouldn’t be far off, but they are actually second with 1,317 players. The top of the ranking is the United States, with a total of 2,813 golfers, almost double that of the English. The explanation lies in the Majors. Which leads us to another conclusion: the power of American golf in the Majors. Goodness gracious. In third place in this ranking is Australia with 570 players, while South Africa is fourth with 567. Spain is fifth ahead of Sweden with 352.
– In the ranking of most tournaments played by Spanish golfers, leading, of course, is Miguel Ángel Jiménez with 723, three behind David Howell. The next threat is Soren Kjeldsen with 712, although the Dane has obtained the PGA Tour Champions card and doesn’t seem likely to play much this year on the DP World Tour. Continuing with the Spaniards… In the second position of the ranking is Santi Luna with 594. With more than 500 are also Miguel Ángel Martín, José María Olazábal, and Nacho Garrido. Among those with full DP World Tour rights in 2025, the most prolific is Pablo Larrazábal with 443, eighth in the ranking, just 31 behind Seve Ballesteros. It can be taken for granted, barring injury misfortune, that the Barcelona native will surpass the Cantabrian, likely in 2026. Rafa Cabrera Bello, with 426, will surpass José María Cañizares and Pepín Rivero this year and will be just behind Larrazábal.
