In the latest of our popular series of lists, this month we look at the 10 South Africans who have played the most times on the European Tour (now DP World Tour) over the years

Is second only to Ernie Els in terms of number of wins by South Africans on this tour. The first of his 14 victories came at the 1996 Northumberland Challenge. Two US Opens and a South African Open are also included in this list of wins. All of his wins came in a golden 11-year period, finishing off with the 2007 Qatar Masters. Along the way he picked up some 22-million Euros in prize money. Goose's most successful year came in 2001 when he won the 2001 Scottish Open, Madrid Open and US Open.

Is closing in on No2 on this list, and needs just one more tournament appearance to tie the 'Goose'. Won for the first time in 13 years when he picked up the 2026 Soudal Open, with his previous victory coming at the 2013 Joburg Open. His other wins have been at the 1994 Open de Madrid, 2007 Wales Open, 2008 Joburg Open and two in 2009, the Alfred Dunhill Championship and SA Open. Has banked over a million Euros in three seasons – 2007, 2013 and 2019.

Picked up six wins in a 10-year period from 1973 (Swiss Open) to 1983 (State Express Classic). In between he added the 1975 Dutch Open, 1976 Scandinavian Open, 1977 Sun Alliance Match Play Championship and 1979 Swiss Open to his tally. One of the high points was finishing runner-up to Seve Ballesteros in the 1977 Order of Merit after winning that year's PGA Match Play Championship. Made four appearances on the European Senior Tour in 1996.

His 28 European Tour titles are double that of second-most Retief Goosen. A former world No1, he won his fourth Major at the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, ten years after he captured the Claret Jug at Muirfield. He also won two US Opens (1994 and 1997). His first win came at the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic with his 28th at the 2013 BMW International Open. He was twice European Order of Merit winner, in 2003 and 2004. He is an Honorary Life Member of the European Tour and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

His three DP World Tour wins were highlighted by his first, the 2011 Open de Espana. That's the season he earned over 1-million Euros for the first and only time in his career, with a third of that coming from the week in Barcelona. It was an emotional week and Aiken dedicated his breakthrough victory to Seve Ballesteros who had died on the weekend of the tournament. He followed up that win with two more successes – at the 2013 Avantha Masters and 2014 Africa Open and also won the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in 2014.

A three-time winner on the Tour – including victory in the 2011 SA Open and an Italian Open double – first in 2008 and then in 2014 – en route to a career-best 46th in the Race to Dubai. Over the years Otto proved himself to be a 'streak' player and this was seen in his European Tour history. In all three of those wins he led going into the final round. He led by four at the 2008 Italian Open, by three at the SA Open and by two in the 2014 Italian Open, after which he broke into the world's top 100.

Sits in joint third for number of wins with close friend Louis Oosthuizen with 11 wins on the tour, behind Ernie Els (28) and Retief Goosen (14). One of his victories came at the 2011 Masters. Eight of his 11 European Tour wins came in South Africa. He was the-then third youngest player to secure his European Tour playing privileges through Qualifying School at age of 18 years 81 days. His breakthrough win on the circuit came in December 2004 when he won the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

Played a lot with Charl Schwartzel, with both capturing 11 tour titles and were only separated by 11 appearances. Won for the first time at the 2010 Open de Andalucia and then produced a remarkable win at the 2010 Open Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews, where he won by seven shots. Ended a four-year wait for his tenth DP World Tour title as he finished two strokes ahead of Schwartzel at the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, and then promptly won the AfrAsia Mauritius Open.

Sits one appearance away from joining Oosthuizen. The first of his five wins came at the 2014 Joburg Open, followed by two in 2015 – the Tshwane Open and Mauritius Open – and then the 2018 Tshwane Open and 2020 Portugal Masters, which was his only victory on the European continent. He made his DP World Tour debut at the SA Open as a 19-year-old amateur in 2005. He secured his DP World Tour card for the 2010 season through the Qualifying School but lost it later that year before regaining his privileges in 2011.

NEXT IN LINE

Jeff Hawkes (333), Justin Walters (330), James Kingston (324), John Bland & Gavan Levenson (both 310)

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