Marco Penge to Play Alongside Rory McIlroy at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Marco Penge, who has had an outstanding season on the DP World Tour with three wins, will join Rory McIlroy in a group for the first time at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship held at Yas Links.
Penge's Admiration for McIlroy
"For me, he's the best player in my generation of kind of watching golf. He's been so successful, and I think a lot of guys in my age group really look up to him not just as a golfer but as a person."
The 27-year-old Englishman revealed he had tried to arrange a practice round with McIlroy in Ireland but the timing never worked out. Penge compares many parts of his game with McIlroy's and is eager to gauge his strengths against the top player on Thursday.
Penge’s Journey and Recent Success
- Last season, Penge narrowly kept his tour card, finishing 110th in the Race to Dubai rankings.
- He faced a three-month ban for betting on golf shortly after that season.
- This year, he has seen a significant improvement with victories at the Hainan Classic, Danish Golf Championship, and Spanish Open.
Currently ranked 29th worldwide, Penge stands second in the Race to Dubai, trailing McIlroy by just 500 points.
Race to Dubai Standings
- Rory McIlroy: Leader
- Marco Penge: Second place, 500 points behind
Playing alongside McIlroy represents an important opportunity for Penge to measure his game against one of golf’s best in his generation.