European Tour all time money list

In 1979, Sandy Lyle won the Order of Merit with £49,000 odd. This year Rory won with £5.5 million, more than 100 times (ignoring inflation) Lyle's winning haul.

It would be interesting but still not fully informative if the past winners hauls were converted into todays value. I reckon Lyle's money would still only be worth about a quarter of a million or so, so there has been huge real growth in the number and value of events since then. Rory also gets to count the US majors and WGC events which Lyle didn't or they didn't exist.