Forty years ago today the first drive of The European Tour

Forty years ago today the first drive of The European Tour was struck when the 1972 Open de España got under way on April 12. Here are a few stats highlights from the last four decades.

FIRST EVENT Open de España - began April 12, 1972, played at Pals Golf Club and won by Antonio Garrido, beating Valentin Barrios in a play-off

NUMBER OF OFFICIAL EUROPEAN TOUR EVENTS1,384

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES TO HAVE WON ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR35

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES TO STAGE EUROPEAN TOUR EVENTS38

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EUROPEAN TOUR WINNERS402

AMOUNT OF OFFICIAL PRIZE MONEY PLAYED FOR€ 1,732,068,862

NUMBER OF PLAY-OFFS254

NUMBER OF HOLES-IN-ONE780

NUMBER OF ALBATROSSES79

MOST EUROPEAN TOUR OFFICIAL VICTORIES50- Seve Ballesteros

MOST ORDERS OF MERIT8 – Colin Montgomerie

MOST EUROPEAN OFFICIAL EVENTS PLAYED706 - Sam Torrance

LEADER OF EUROPEAN TOUR OFFICIAL CAREER EARNINGS€27,275,465 - Lee Westwood

YOUNGEST EUROPEAN TOUR WINNER17 years and 188 days -
Matteo Manassero - 2010 CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar

OLDEST EUROPEAN TOUR WINNER48 years and 34 days
Des Smyth - 2001 Madeira Islands Open

AMATEUR WINNERS ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR2007 Estoril Open de Portugal - Pablo Martin
2009 - Johnnie Walker Classic - Danny Lee
2009 - 3 Irish Open - Shane Lowry

FATHER/SON TO WIN ON THE EUROPEAN TOURAntonio/Igancio Garrido
Craig/Kevin Stadler
José Maria/Alejandro Cañizares

BROTHERS TO WIN ON THE EUROPEAN TOURAntonio/German Garrido
Seve/Manuel Ballesteros
Edoardo/Francesco Molinari

MOST CONSECUTIVE EUROPEAN TOUR CUTS MADE82 - Ernie Els

MOST EUROPEAN TOUR TOP TEN FINISHES183 - Colin Montgomerie

MOST OFFICIAL EUROPEAN TOUR EVENTS IN THE MONEY510 - Sam Torrance

LOWEST EUROPEAN TOUR 72 HOLE TOTAL258 (-18) - Ian Woosnam - 1990 Torras Monte Carlo Open
258 (-14) - David Llewellyn - 1988 AGF Biarritz Open

LOWEST EUROPEAN TOUR 72 HOLES UNDER PAR259 (-29) - Ernie Els - 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic