From Suspension to Chasing Rory McIlroy: Marco Penge's Remarkable Career Turnaround
About a year ago, Marco Penge of England was ranked outside the top 400 in the world and had just earned his European Tour card by sinking a tense putt on the final hole. The past 12 months have been rapid and intense for him.
In 2022, the European Tour suspended Penge for two months after he placed small bets on tournaments he did not participate in, before completing the tour's integrity program. Accepting responsibility, Penge promised never to repeat the mistake.
Since then, his career has soared. He won his first European Tour title in China, finished runner-up at the Scottish Open, triumphed again in Denmark, and claimed a third title at the Spanish Open. These successes put him within striking distance of Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, heading into the final two events of the season.
Penge trails McIlroy by 441 points before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
“I still am in disbelief in a way that I am in the position that I am,” Penge said Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. “Not from the point that I don’t think I’m good enough, just from the point of how fast it’s happened.”
Beyond the Race to Dubai, Penge has secured a PGA Tour card, awarded to the top 10 players on the European Tour, known commercially as the DP World Tour. Amid rumors of possible interest from LIV Golf, Penge and his wife traveled to the United States to begin searching for a home.
Currently 29th in the world rankings, this week is pivotal for his standing and for valuable points that affect next year's opportunities.
Author's summary: Marco Penge's journey from suspension to European Tour success highlights a rapid rise marked by wins and a close chase of top-ranked Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.