Seve Ballesteros Career in numbers

Europeantour.com takes a statistical look at the career of the great Seve Ballesteros, who was born on this day in 1957.

• Turned professional in March 1974, aged 16.

• His first European Tour event was at the 1974 Spanish Open, aged 17 years and eight days, making him the youngest professional to play in a European Tour event.

• His first cheque came in his third event – a tie for fifth in the 1974 Italian Open. He collected €1,680.

• Won his first European Tour title at the 1976 Dutch Open in his 27th  event, beating Howard Clark by eight shots. Aged 19 years and 121 days.

• His victory in the Dutch Open helped him win The Order of Merit for the first time in 1976 aged 19 years and 250 days – the youngest player to achieve the feat.

• After winning The Order of Merit in 1976, he retained it in both 1977 and 1978. He  went onto win it again in 1986 and 1991.

• Won the first of his three Open Championships in 1979. Repeated the feat in 1984 and 1988.

• First European player to win the Masters Tournament in 1980. Won again in 1983. In 1980 aged 23 years and four days, to become the then youngest winner.

• Finished in the top ten of The European Tour Order of Merit every year between 1976-1989 and 16 times during his career – a European Tour record held jointly with Bernhard Langer.

• Won 50 European Tour International Schedule titles, eight more than Bernhard Langer, who is next highest.

• Won at least one European Tour title for 17 consecutive years  between 1976 and 1992 – a European Tour record.

• Played in 418 European Tour events and made the cut in 311 with 170 of those finishing in the top ten.

• Was the last player to win three consecutive European Tour events in 1986,  at the Irish Open, Monte Carlo Open and Open de France.

• Made European Tour history in 1986 by becoming the first player to win six official events in a single season. His victories were: British Masters, Irish Open, Monte Carlo Open, Open de France, Dutch Open and Trophée Lancôme

• Was the first player to reach £1 million, £2 million and £3 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.