Colin Montgomerie calls Rory McIlroy the “best European golfer of all time” – but what do our rankings say?
At the end of a decisive year in Rory McIlroy’s career, Colin Montgomerie leaves no doubt that the Northern Irishman is now “the best European golfer of all time”.
McIlroy has had a great year — a victory at the Masters, a career major, Ryder Cup glory, the joy of the Irish Open and wins at iconic American venues TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Beach — but so has his career.
“Now that Rory has won all four majors, I think you have to put him at the front [Nick] Faldo and said Rory was the best European player of all time,” Montgomery told Sky Sports.
“Rory has won a career Grand Slam, something that has never been achieved by a European player before.”
McIlroy himself has said that Montgomery is “underrated” given that he won so many during the golden era of European golf.
But where do Europe’s best golfers actually rank? We created a points system to end the debate and limit it to modern times (since the end of World War II).
Let’s see how it works and who comes out on top!
Golf365 points system:
• Grand Slam winner: 3 points per game (career Grand Slam plus 2 points)
• DP World Tour Merit Award: 1 point each
• Most DP World Tour titles: 3 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place
• Most PGA Tour wins (Europeans): 3 points for first place, 2 points for second place, 1 point for third place
• Maximum Ryder Cup points: 5 points for first place, 4 points for second place, 3 points for third place, 2 points for fourth place, 1 point for fifth place
1. Rory McIlroy – 27 points
The numbers back up Monty’s case, but it’s worth noting that it was the career Grand Slam that gave the Northern Irishman the clear No. 1 spot.
The overall case for his dominance is so strong: these five majors, the key fact is that he won all four majors, seven Medal of Honor titles, and no European has won more PGA Tour titles than him (he also finished among the top five European Ryder Cup scorers with a seventh-place finish).
And don’t overlook his eight second or third-place finishes in the majors. It shows that his quality and influence are also important – he is a leader off the pitch and his ideas drive the growth of the game.
2. Severiano Ballesteros – 25 points
The great Sevey trails McIlroy in the number of major wins (five) and money list wins (six), with four golfers now surpassing his Ryder Cup score. But he remains the only man to win 50 DP World Tour titles.
Of course, numbers aren’t everything. In terms of influence, no one can surpass the Spaniards. He was a revolutionary leader in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s. He dragged his peers into world-class company, and they won majors and Ryder Cups with him.
However, his peak form did only last a short while, and McIlroy has surpassed him in that regard. 1-2 is fair.
3. Nick Fedor – 20 points
The Briton deserves to be in the top three, but it’s worth noting the gap between him and fourth. This shows that it will take him a long time to be surpassed, which is a clear reminder of his quality.
In fact, his six major wins put him ahead of the top two, but he only won the Medal of Honor twice. He was also a bit unlucky to lose victory points on the PGA Tour because he won there and it’s unusual to play in the United States.
He did have an impact on the game, but always with the handbrake on. Unlike McIlroy and Ballesteros, he lacks natural charisma, although he does show more personality as a television commentator.
4. Bernhard Langer – 13 points
The quiet man of European golf. The German overcame chronic back injuries and doubts to win for the first time on the DP World Tour when few believed he would win again, let alone become a legend.
He has won two Masters titles, two Medals of Honor, is the second-most winning golfer on the DP World Tour and remains third in the European Ryder Cup standings. All of this is the result of an outrageous work ethic and no small amount of skill.
5. Colin Montgomery – 11 points
The Scot is often remembered for what he didn’t achieve in competition (no major wins, no wins on the PGA Tour) rather than what he did – which really isn’t fair.
His eight DP World Tour medals remain the highest, with only Ballesteros and Langer winning more events on tour. He ranks fourth on the European Ryder Cup scoring list and is a giant on the continent.
=6. Henry Cotton – 10 points
The Englishman made a surprising appearance, winning his third and final Open victory in 1948 (he also won twice in the 1930s). In 1938 he was awarded the Order of Merit, then the Order of Merit.
=6. Padraig Harrington – 10 points
The Irishman is tied with Cotton on the back of his stunning success in back-to-back majors in 2007 and 2008, when he won back-to-back Open titles and then the PGA Championship. He was also the 2006 Medal of Merit recipient.
=8. Sandy Lyle – 9 points
The Scot won the 1985 British Open to claim his third European Order of Merit title. Three years later, he won the 1988 Masters and became the first non-American to win the Players Championship.
=8. Sergio Garcia – 9 points
It was just one major victory for the Spaniard, but his 11 wins on the PGA Tour (also including The Players Championship) are impressive, and he remains Europe’s most prolific Ryder Cup points-winner, catapulting him into the top 10.
10. Lee Westwood – 7 points
Like Montgomery, the Englishman couldn’t win a major, but he came very close: finishing second or third nine times, in fact. He excelled in Europe (three times receiving the Medal of Honor) and also excelled in the Ryder Cup (Europe’s fourth-highest scorer).
Next best: Tony Jacklin, Jose Maria Olazabal and Martin Kaymer scored 6 points, Ian Woosnan and Justin Rose scored 5 points.
Continue reading: The biggest golf flops of the 2025 season
