McIlroy enters golf’s history book
Only four players in European Tour history have triumphed at a younger age than Rory McIlroy, Sunday’s Dubai Desert Classic winner.
Only four players in European Tour history have won at a younger age than Rory McIlroy, who captured the Dubai Desert Classic by a stroke from Justin Rose on Sunday.
The Northern Ireland teenager is still three months away from his 20th birthday. South African Dale Hayes holds the record at 18 years 290 days, while Seve Ballesteros, Paul Way and Sergio Garcia also broke their ducks sooner than McIlroy.
Europe’s newest champion is now into the world’s top 20 as a result.
Teenagers to win on the European Tour are:
18 years 290 days Dale Hayes (1971 Spanish Open)
19 years 121 days Seve Ballesteros (1976 Dutch Open)
19 years 149 days Paul Way (1982 Dutch Open)
19 years 176 days Sergio Garcia (1999 Irish Open)
19 years 191 days Seve Ballesteros (1976 Lancome Trophy)
19 days 267 days Sergio Garcia (1999 German Masters)
19 days 273 days Rory McIlroy (2009 Dubai Desert Classic)
19 days 331 days Aaron Baddeley (2001 Holden International)
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