Not only does McIlroy have six major championships, but he also has 20 top-10 finishes in majors, 30 PGA Tour wins, three FedEx Cup titles, seven Race to Dubai titles, eight Ryder Cup appearances and the Career Grand Slam. The living legend can finally call himself the greatest European of all time, and he’s still not done writing his story.
2. Sir Nick Faldo
Major championships: 6
Professional wins: 49
It was a good run for Faldo, who won three Masters titles and three Open Championships and was widely considered the greatest European golfer ever for 30 years. The Englishman also won 30 European Tour events, scored 22.0 points for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup and captained the 2008 European squad to a Ryder Cup victory.
As great as Faldo was, he won only nine PGA Tour events and never won the PGA Championship or U.S. Open. The Hall of Famer is a historian of the game who respects greatness, so he would be the first to admit McIlroy has taken his spot on this list.
3. Seve Ballesteros
Major championships: 5
Professional wins: 95
Ballesteros is the greatest Spanish golfer to ever live. He won five major championships (two Masters, three Open Championships) and still holds the record for the most European Tour wins in history (50). His short game will forever be revered as the gold standard.
As a legendary Ryder Cupper, Ballesteros went 20-12-5 in his career and led Team Europe to five wins as a player or captain.
4. Bernard Langer
Major championships: 2
Professional wins: 136
If you take their entire careers into account, Langer surely deserves a spot in the top five. After winning two major championships and 42 European Tour events, the German went on to dominate the PGA Tour Champions with a record 47 wins and 12 majors.
Langer has won an incredible 136 tournaments as a professional, showcasing his longevity and ability to adapt to different tours and golf courses.
5. Sergio Garcia
Major championships: 1
Professional wins: 40
Garcia’s professional golf career might not stack up to the other players considered for the fifth spot, but he’s the most decorated European Ryder Cup player of all time. The Ryder Cup is almost as important as major championships for Europeans. No one has scored more points in the event than Garcia, who went 25-13-7 and scored 28.5 points in his career.
Garcia also won a green jacket in 2027 and has four runner-up finishes in majors. With 11 PGA Tour wins and 40 total victories as a pro.