Ahead of the 2012 Reale Seguros Open de España, in what is the 100th anniversary of the first staging of the event and the 40th anniversary of the first European Tour event in 1972, europeantour.com takes a numerical look back at the tournament’s rich history.
1912– The year of the first Open de España won by the 1907 Open Champion, Arnaud Massy of France.
5– Europe’s fifth oldest National Open Championship.
10– The number of different Major Champions to win the Championship.
17– The age of Seve Ballesteros when he played the Open de España in 1974. At this event he created European Tour history by becoming the youngest professional to play a European Tour event, aged 17 years and eight days.
1– In 1972 the Open de España was the first official European Tour event. It was won by Antonio Garrido, defeating Valentin Barrios in a play-off.
86– The number of times the Open de España has been played, including the tournament in 2012.
6– The most number of wins, by Angel de la Torre, in 1916, 1917, 1919, 1923, 1925 and 1935.
18– The age of the event’s youngest winner. Dale Hayes was 18 years and 290 days in 1971.
8– The number of play-offs that have been contested since the event became part of The European Tour in 1972.
7– The number of European Tour events that have appeared on The European Tour Schedule every year since its first season in 1972. One of these is the Open de España.
1995– The year Seve Ballesteros won the last of his three Open de España titles.
262– The lowest winning 72 hole total, set by Mark James in 1988.
50– The last of Seve Ballesteros’ European Tour victories came at the 1995 Open de España.
138– The record low 36 hole cut in European Tour history, established at the 2003 Open de España.
13- The number of holes-in-one recorded in the Open de España since 1972.
2– The number of amateurs who have won the Open de España. They are: Mario Gonzalez (1947) and Conde de Lamaze (1955).
45– In winning the 1975 Open de España, Arnold Palmer became the oldest winner in the history of the event, aged 45 years and 221 days.
18– The number of different Spanish players to win their National Open.
26– Puerto de Hierro, the venue which has been used on the most occasions.
61– The lowest 18 hole score recorded in the Open de España, by Wayne Riley in 1988 at Pedrena.
