From Ernie Els’s long-standing to record to Andy Sullivan’s recent record-breaking triumph, we take a look back at the lowest ever 72-hole scores to par on the European Tour.
Ernie Els – 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic (-29)
In 2003, Ernie Els set the lowest 72 hole score to par (-29) with a dominant victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic.
Els led the contest from day one, and claimed his 13th European Tour title in impression fashion with rounds of 64, 65, 64 and 66 to earn a ten shot winning margin over Australian duo Stephen Leaney and Andre Stolz.
At the time, Els – the World Number Two - was already the holder of the low 72-hole record on the PGA Tour, which he had set at 31 under par during the Mercedes Championship at the start of the year. It was his fourth win in five starts worldwide, and he would go on to successfully defend the European Tour Order of Merit later that year.
2003 Johnnie Walker Classic: Results
Jerry Anderson - 1984 Ebel European Masters – Swiss Open (-27)
Jerry Anderson became the first player in European Tour history to finish an event at 27-under-par when he lifted the Ebel European Masters – Swiss Open trophy in 1984.
Anderson, who was the first Canadian to win on the European Tour, defeated Howard Clark by five strokes with rounds of 63, 66, 66 and 66 at Crans-sur-Sierre.
He would finish ninth on the European Tour Order of Merit that year, and while his record was matched, it wasn’t overtaken until Els achieved the feat 19 years later.
1984 Ebel European Masters Swiss Open: Results
Louis Oosthuizen – 2012 African Open (-27)
A year after Louis Oosthuizen came through a play-off against Chris Wood and Manuel Quiros to win the African Open, he successfully defended his title with a two-shot victory during the 2012 African Open.
The former Open Champion held firm on the back nine as his playing partners Tjaart Van der Walt and Retief Goosen, closing out a 67 to win by two shots on 27 under par - matching the record Anderson had set 28 years prior.
It was Oosthuizen's first victory of 2012, later winning the Maybank Malaysian Open, and he would finish the year at third on the European Tour Order of Merit.
Richard Sterne – 2013 Joburg Open (-27)
Having recovered from a lengthy spell away through injury, Sterne became the third player in European Tour history to win with a total of 27 under par during the 2013 Joburg Open.
Sterne began Sunday in a share of the lead with Trevor Fisher Junior, but a final-round bogey-free 64 helped him to his first victory in four years, seven strokes clear of compatriot Charl Schwartzel.
With rounds of 63, 65, 68 and 64, it was Sterne’s sixth European Tour title, and fourth on South African soil.
Andy Sullivan – 2020 English Championship (-27)
Andy Sullivan ended a near five-year wait for a fourth European Tour victory at the 2020 English Championship
Sullivan began the final day with a five-shot lead, and while that lead was cut to two, an impressive back nine left him seven shots clear of Otaegui on 27 under par thanks to rounds of 66, 62, 64 and 65.
But while Andy Sullivan’s record isn’t as low as Els’ 29 under, it is the lowest every aggregate score on the European Tour, of 257. The previous record of 258 had been first set by David Llewellyn at the 1988 AGF Biarritz Open, and matched only once - by Ian Woosnam during the 1990 Torras Monte Carlo Open.
