Colin Montgomerie says Rory McIlroy is the “greatest European golfer ever” – however what do our rankings say?
On the finish of a career-defining yr for Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie is in little question that the Northern Irishman is now the “greatest European golfer ever.”
McIlroy’s yr has been excellent – triumph on the Masters, with it the profession Grand Slam, Ryder Cup glory, Irish Open pleasure, plus wins at iconic American venues TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Seaside – however so, too, has been his profession.
“Now that Rory has received all 4 majors, I feel you’d must put him forward of [Nick] Faldo and say that Rory is the perfect European participant ever to play,” Montgomerie advised Sky Sports activities.
“Rory has achieved what no European participant has achieved prior to now by successful the profession grand slam.”
McIlroy himself has stated that Montgomerie is “underrated” provided that he received a lot through the golden age of European golf.
However the place do the perfect European golfers truly rank? We’ve created a factors system to finish the argument and restricted it to the trendy period (because the finish of the Second World Warfare).
Let’s see the way it works and who comes out on prime!
Golf365 factors system:
• Main championship wins: 3 factors for every (2 level bonus for the Profession Grand Slam)• DP World Tour Order of Benefit wins: 1 level every• Most DP World Tour wins: 3 factors for first, 2 factors for second, 1 factors for third• Most PGA Tour wins (for Europeans): 3 factors for first, 2 factors for second, 1 factors for third• Most Ryder Cup factors: 5 for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, 1 for fifth
1. Rory McIlroy – 27 factors
The numbers again up Monty’s opinion though it’s price noting that it was the profession Grand Slam that took the Northern Irishman into clear first place.
The general case for his supremacy is so robust: these 5 majors, the essential incontrovertible fact that he’s received all 4 of them, the seven Order of Benefit titles and no European has received extra PGA Tour titles than he has (he’s additionally closing in on the highest 5 European scorers within the Ryder Cup in seventh place).
Don’t overlook his eight second or third place finishes within the majors both. It signifies his high quality and his affect is critical too – he’s an off the course chief whose ideas transfer the game’s needle.
2. Severiano Ballesteros – 25 factors
The good Seve has been caught numerically by McIlroy in majors wins (5) and Order of Benefit wins (6), and 4 golfers have now bettered his Ryder Cup tally. However he stays the one winner of fifty DP World Tour titles.
Numbers are usually not every little thing, after all. By way of affect no-one will ever overtake the Spaniard. He was Europe’s revolutionary chief within the Nineteen Seventies and 80s. He dragged his friends into world class firm they usually received majors and Ryder Cups alongside him.
He did burn at his brightest for only a temporary interval, nevertheless, and McIlroy has already bettered him in that regard. The 1-2 is honest.
3. Nick Faldo – 20 factors
The Englishman is deservedly within the prime three and it’s price noting the hole between himself and fourth place. It suggests that it’s going to take a very long time earlier than he’s overtaken and that may be a sharp reminder of his high quality.
Certainly, his tally of six main wins locations him forward of the highest two, however he received simply the 2 Order of Deserves. He’s additionally a little bit unlucky to lose out on PGA Tour win factors as a result of he received there when simply to compete in America was uncommon.
He did have an effect on the sport but it surely was all the time with the hand brake on. In contrast to McIlroy and Ballesteros he lacks pure charisma, though he did reveal extra character as a TV commentator.
4. Bernhard Langer – 13 factors
The quiet man of European golf. The German overcame continual again accidents and the yips to win for the primary time on the DP World Tour – at which factors only a few of his friends believed he’d win once more by no means thoughts turn into a legend.
He has received two Masters titles, two Order of Deserves, is the second winningest golfer on the DP World Tour and stays third in Europe’s Ryder Cup factors successful record. All of it’s a consequence of an outrageous work ethic and no little ability.
5. Colin Montgomerie – 11 factors
The Scot is commonly remembered for what he didn’t obtain within the recreation (no main win, no win on the PGA Tour) moderately than what he did – and that’s actually not particularly reasonable.
His tally of eight DP World Tour Order of Deserves stays the best and solely Ballesteros and Langer have received extra tournaments on the circuit. He’s additionally fourth on the record of most European Ryder Cup factors and was an enormous for the continent.
=6. Henry Cotton – 10 factors
A shock look for the Englishman who solely simply squeezes into the reckoning with a 3rd and ultimate Open win in 1948 (he additionally received twice within the Thirties). His Order of Benefit win, such because it was then, got here in 1938.
=6. Padraig Harrington – 10 factors
The Irishman ties Cotton due to his gorgeous run of majors success in 2007 and 2008 when he landed back-to-back Open triumphs adopted by a PGA Championship. He was additionally the Order of Benefit winner in 2006.
=8. Sandy Lyle – 9 factors
The Scot’s third European Order of Benefit title was secured with victory within the 1985 Open. Three years later he received the 1988 Masters and in-between he grew to become the primary non-American winner of the Gamers Championship.
=8. Sergio Garcia – 9 factors
Simply the one main win for the Spaniard however he has a powerful tally of 11 PGA Tour wins (additionally together with the Gamers) and he leaps into the highest 10 by remaining probably the most prolific winner of factors for Europe within the Ryder Cup.
10. Lee Westwood – 7 factors
Like Montgomerie, the Englishman couldn’t win a serious however he got here very shut: 9 occasions second or third, in actual fact. He was stellar in Europe (three Order of Deserves) and likewise within the Ryder Cup (Europe’s fourth highest factors scorer).
Subsequent greatest: Tony Jacklin, Jose Maria Olazabal & Martin Kaymer 6 factors, Ian Woosnam & Justin Rose 5 factors.
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