Created in 1937 as the Harry Vardon Memorial Trophy it was originally presented to the player with the best average in the major stroke play events.
| Year | Player | Nat. | ||||||
Race to Dubai leader
| ||||||||
| 2018 | Francesco Molinari | ITA | ||||||
| 2017 | Tommy Fleetwood | ENG | ||||||
| 2016 | Henrik Stenson (2) | SWE | ||||||
| 2015 | Rory McIlroy (2) | NI | ||||||
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy (1) | NI | ||||||
| 2013 | Henrik Stenson (1) | SWE | ||||||
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy | NI | ||||||
| 2011 | Luke Donald | ENG | ||||||
| 2010 | Martin Kaymer | GER | ||||||
| 2009 | Lee Westwood (2) | ENG | ||||||
Order of Merit leader
| ||||||||
| 2008 | Robert Karlsson | SWE | ||||||
| 2007 | Justin Rose | ENG | ||||||
| 2006 | Padraig Harrington | IRE | ||||||
| 2005 | Colin Montgomerie (8) | SCO | ||||||
| 2004 | Ernie Els (2) | RSA | ||||||
| 2003 | Ernie Els (2) | RSA | ||||||
| 2002 | Retief Goosen (2) | RSA | ||||||
| 2001 | Retief Goosen (1) | RSA | ||||||
| 2000 | Lee Westwood (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1999 | Colin Montgomerie (7) | SCO | ||||||
| 1998 | Colin Montgomerie (6) | SCO | ||||||
| 1997 | Colin Montgomerie (5) | SCO | ||||||
| 1996 | Colin Montgomerie (4) | SCO | ||||||
| 1995 | Colin Montgomerie (3) | SCO | ||||||
| 1994 | Colin Montgomerie (2) | SCO | ||||||
| 1993 | Colin Montgomerie (1) | SCO | ||||||
| 1992 | Sir Nick Faldo (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1991 | Seve Ballesteros (6) | ESP | ||||||
| 1990 | Ian Woosnam (2) | WAL | ||||||
| 1989 | Ronan Rafferty | NI | ||||||
| 1988 | Seve Ballesteros (5) | ESP | ||||||
| 1987 | Ian Woosnam (1) | WAL | ||||||
| 1986 | Seve Ballesteros (4) | ESP | ||||||
| 1985 | Sandy Lyle (3) | SCO | ||||||
| 1984 | Bernhard Langer (2) | GER | ||||||
Official Money List Leader
| ||||||||
| 1983 | Sir Nick Faldo (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1982 | Greg Norman | AUS | ||||||
| 1981 | Bernhard Langer (1) | GER | ||||||
| 1980 | Sandy Lyle (2) | SCO | ||||||
Order of Merit leader
| ||||||||
| 1979 | Sandy Lyle (1) | SCO | ||||||
| 1978 | Seve Ballesteros (3) | ESP | ||||||
| 1977 | Seve Ballesteros (2) | ESP | ||||||
| 1976 | Seve Ballesteros (1) | ESP | ||||||
| 1975 | Dale Hayes | RSA | ||||||
| 1974 | Peter Oosterhuis (4) | ENG | ||||||
Order of Merit based on points system, not player who won the most money.
| ||||||||
| 1973 | Peter Oosterhuis (3) | ENG | ||||||
| 1972 | Peter Oosterhuis (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1971 | Peter Oosterhuis (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1970 | Neil Coles (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1969 | Bernard Gallacher | SCO | ||||||
| 1968 | Brian Huggett | WAL | ||||||
| 1967 | Malcolm Gregson | ENG | ||||||
| 1966 | Peter Alliss (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1965 | Bernard Hunt (3) | ENG | ||||||
| 1964 | Peter Alliss (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1963 | Neil Coles (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1962 | Christy O'Connor (2) | IRE | ||||||
| 1961 | Christy O'Connor (1) | IRE | ||||||
| 1960 | Bernard Hunt (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1959 | Dai Rees (2) | WAL | ||||||
| 1958 | Bernard Hunt (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1957 | Eric Brown | SCO | ||||||
| 1956 | Harry Weetman (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1955 | Dai Rees (1) | WAL | ||||||
| 1954 | Bobby Locke (3) | RSA | ||||||
| 1953 | Flory Van Donck | BEL | ||||||
| 1952 | Harry Weetman (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1951 | John Panton | SCO | ||||||
| 1950 | Bobby Locke (2) | RSA | ||||||
| 1949 | Charlie Ward (2) | ENG | ||||||
| 1948 | Charlie Ward (1) | ENG | ||||||
| 1947 | NormanVon Nida | AUS | ||||||
| 1946 | Bobby Locke (1) | RSA | ||||||
| 1940–45 | No award | |||||||
| 1939 | Reg Whitcombe | ENG | ||||||
| 1938 | Henry Cotton | ENG | ||||||
| 1937 | Charles Whitcombe | ENG | ||||||