Named after triple Open Champion (1934, 1937, 1948) Sir Henry Cotton, this Award is made to the most promising newcomer on the European Tour, and selected by a committee of PGA European Tour, Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.Andrews and Association of Golf Writers representatives.
| Year | Rookie of the Year | Country |
| 2024 | Jesper Svensson | Sweden |
| 2023 | Ryo Hisatsune | Japan |
| 2022 | Thriston Lawrence | South Africa |
| 2021 | Matti Schmid | Germany |
| 2020 | Sami Välimäki | Finland |
| 2019 | Robert MacIntyre | Scotland |
| 2018 | Shubhankar Sharma | India |
| 2017 | Jon Rahm | Spain |
| 2016 | Wang Jeung-hun | South Korea |
| 2015 | Byeong Hun An | South Korea |
 Related: PGA Tour Player of the Year & PGA Player of the YearFrom 1948 to the present day. |
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| 2014 | Brooks Koepka | USA |
| 2013 | Peter Uihlein | USA |
| 2012 | Ricardo Santos | Portugal |
| 2011 | Tom Lewis | England |
| 2010 | Matteo Manassero | Italy |
| 2009 | Chris Wood | England |
| 2008 | Pablo Larrazábal | Spain |
| 2007 | Martin Kaymer | Germany |
| 2006 | Marc Warren | Scotland |
| 2005 | Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño | Spain |
 Related: European Tour – Golfer of the YearInaugurated in 1985. |
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| 2004 | Scott Drummond | Scotland |
| 2003 | Peter Lawrie | Ireland |
| 2002 | Nick Dougherty | England |
| 2001 | Paul Casey | England |
| 2000 | Ian Poulter | England |
| 1999 | Sergio Garcia | Spain |
| 1998 | Olivier Edmond | France |
| 1997 | Scott Henderson | Scotland |
| 1996 | Thomas Bjørn | Denmark |
| 1995 | Jarmo Sandelin | Sweden |
 Related: PGA Tour – Rookie of the YearFrom 1979 to the present day. |
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| 1994 | Jonathan Lomas | England |
| 1993 | Gary Orr | Scotland |
| 1992 | Jim Payne | England |
| 1991 | Per-Ulrik Johansson | Sweden |
| 1990 | Russel Claydon | England |
| 1989 | Paul Broadhurst | England |
| 1988 | Colin Montgomerie | Scotland |
| 1987 | Peter Baker | England |
| 1986 | José María Olazábal | Spain |
| 1985 | Paul Thomas | Wales |
| 1984 | Philip Parkin | Wales |
| 1983 | Grant Turner | England |
| 1982 | Godron Brand Jnr. | Scotland |
| 1981 | Jeremy Bennet | England |
| 1980 | Paul Hoad | England |
| 1979 | Mike Miller | Scotland |
| 1978 | Sandy Lyle | Scotland |
| 1977 | Nick Faldo | England |
| 1976 | Mark James | England |
| 1975 | No Award | |
| 1974 | Carl Mason | England |
| 1973 | Philip Elson | England |
| 1972 | Sam Torrance | Scotland |
| 1971* | David Llewellyn | Wales |
| 1970 | Stuart Brown | England |
| 1969 | Peter Oosterhuis | England |
| 1968 | Bernard Gallacher | Scotland |
| 1967 | No Award | – |
| 1966 | Robin Liddle | Scotland |
| 1965 | No Award | – |
| 1964 | No Award | – |
| 1963 | Tony Jacklin | England |
| 1962 | No Award | – |
| 1961 | Alex Caygill | England |
| 1960 | Tommy Goodwin | England |
| * Note: from 1960-71, the award was made by the British Professional Golfers’ Association. Upon the founding of the European Tour in 1972, the award changed to its current format. | ||
| The Award is usually – but not always – given to the rookie who finishes highest on the European rankings. | ||
