In the history of the European Tour, there have been some young shooting stars to come out of the gates early in their careers and win in their teens. In fact, some of the youngest winners in European Tour history haven't even been able to drink legally when they hoisted their trophies.
The youngest winner in European Tour history is Italian Matteo Manassero. Manassero won the Castello Masters in 2010 at the age of 17 years, 188 days, making him easily the youngest champion.
Manassero set the record, however, just a year after Danny Lee became the then-youngest winner in European Tour history. Danny Lee previously held the record as the youngest winner in European Tour history when he won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic at the age of 18 years, 213 days. Lee won as an amateur, following Pablo Martin as the second amateur to win in European Tour history. He then turned pro and has been a successful player on the PGA Tour in the years since.
In 2019, Rasmus Højgaard became the third-youngest winner in European Tour history with a playoff win at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. At the age of 18 years, 271 days, Højgaard prevailed over Renato Paratore and Antoine Rozner by going birdie-birdie-eagle in the playoff holes to secure his first European Tour title just 18 days after securing his card.
On the European Challenge Tour, the European Tour's developmental circuit, Korean Min-kyu Kim won the D+D Real Czech Challenge in May 2018 to become the youngest champion in any European Tour-sanctioned event. He was 17 years, 2 months, 3 days old when he won the title.
Youngest winners in European Tour history
- 17 years, 188 days - Matteo Manassero, 2010 Castello Masters
- 18 years, 213 days -- Danny Lee, 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic
- 18 years, 271 days -- Rasmus Højgaard, 2019 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open
