Significant evidence of the recent development of The European Tour is illustrated by a study of the statistics for 1998 compared to 2001 and 2002.
In 1998 a total of 65 players reached £100,000 for the season in the Volvo Order of Merit. In 2001 that figure had increased to 115 and in 2002 no fewer that 125 players earned in excess of £100,000 - Peter Baker winning €159,536 (£101,722).
The significant milestone reached in 2001, with all the players in the top 115, who kept their playing privileges automatically, accumulating more than £100,000 in official winnings, accurately reflects the progress of prize money. Moreover the overall growth has been confirmed at the top of the Volvo Order of Merit, too. In 1998, 31 players grossed more than £200,000 in prize money. That figure had risen to 42 in 2000, to 64 in 2001 and then in 2002 to 74. In 1998, five players finished the season with more than £500,000 in earnings; in 2000 that figure was 15, in 2001 it was 18 and in 2002 it rose to 26.
In percentage terms, the growth has been rapid. Søren Hansen, winner of the Murphy's Irish Open, finished 20th in the 2002 Volvo Order of Merit with €932,789 (£594,758) which represents a 18.34% increase on 20th place €788,201 (£490,071) in 2001, a 50.28% increase on 2000 €620,697 (£369,143) and a 180.45% increase on 1998 €332,599 (£237,571). David Gilford's €452,157 (£288,301) for 50th place in 2002 represents a growth of 12.84%, 55.80% and 136.69% compared with 2001 (€400,696; £249,136), 2000 (€290,209; £172,594) and 1998 (€191,036; £136,454) respectively.
Paul Eales’s 115th position (€176,218; £112,359) showed a 9.03% increase on 2001 (€161,617; £100,487),a 44.05% increase on 2000 (€122,327; £72,750), and a 138.17% increase on 1998 (€73,987; £52,848).
