Europe’s next PGA Tour star? It may be the ‘modern golfer’ who hits the mile

The gang is in Palm Beach now. Marco. Sophia. Enzo, their boy who turns 2 this year. Otis, their golden retriever. And because everyone is there, everything from England came with them, meaning nothing seemed to be out of the box or unpacked for a while. More is on the way, too. In four weeks, another child will arrive. Penges will be five.

It all feels overwhelming, Marco said. And you certainly believe him, though not just because you might be able to relate.

Because if anyone truly understands the concept, it’s this guy who has frustrated so many over the past year.

From the victor to the vanquished. That happens, especially if it comes in a short period of time. This time last year, Penge was at home. It’s suspended, actually. But then he won at the end of April in China. He then won in mid-August in Denmark. He then won in October in Spain. That earned him a Masters tee time. Then came the PGA Tour card, the result of Penge’s standing in the DP World Tour season points race, and he will start with a round on Thursday, at the Farmers Insurance Open.

There will be curiosity. Upon his ascension. On top of his driving. The Internet says that last year on the DP World Tour, Penge ranked first in the championships scored off the tee and that he averaged 319 yards off the tee. But you really should look 27 years old with a big dog in his hand. Or listen. (You can do it here, if you like.) Last November, at the DP World Tour’s season-ending event, your new Grand Slam winner had at least heard the news.

“He played well,” said Rory McIlroy. “He’s the type of modern golfer, he hits it long, and he doesn’t really seem to have any weaknesses.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing his game over the next few days, and you know, the way this course starts and how tight the fairway is, I think he’s going to see a few long drives out there.”

Was McIlroy taller than him?

He said: “I don’t know. “He must be tall. He is nine years younger than me.”

An extreme like Penge means surprise, however, and few would have foreseen any of this, at least not a year ago. There was a promise. He had success as a novice. He won the year-round points race in 2023 on the then-named Challenge Tour, which earned him a spot on the DP World Tour. There, in 2024, due to a birdie on the last hole of his last event of the year, Penge finished in 110th place in the points standings, and 110 received the level of play of 2025. He can build on that. That was the basis. But then the bomb came. There was a lot going on. In an interview last October with Ben Parsons of bunkered.com (which can be read in full here), Penge said he found out in April 2024 that he was being investigated for gambling at golf events – “I was in the shower and my wife ran and told me about it” – and seven days before Christmas Day 2024, the DP20 World Tourd announced that it was suspended on February 25.

Penge cooperated with him. But he said he thought the bet was made innocently. In Parsons’ case, he said he bet in 2022 and ’23 on the majors and the Ryder Cup, and he never got more than 24 euros – and he didn’t do it himself. “Ever since I was a little boy, I was betting on the majors and stuff,” he told Parsons. “I’m not a betting man, but when I watch sports, it adds excitement to it. I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to do anything. I knew I couldn’t bet, I just didn’t know I couldn’t bet in the majors. It scared me.”

So maybe what happened next

In his first start back, he tied 20.

Six starts after that, he won in China.

In May of last year, he tied for 28th at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, NC In July of last year, he tied for second at the Scottish Open, behind McIlroy.

Before the end of the year, he won two more times and finished second in the points race.

The time spent traveling was rewarding. He worked on things. In the case of Parsons, Penge said he was diagnosed with ADHD at the time, and in a press conference last November, he said that helped him cope better. “There are a lot of things I do when I feel a certain way or things are overwhelming me in my mind. Yes, I feel much better that I understand myself.”

All this made him think twice on Tuesday.

“I’m still here,” said Penge, “I like being here knowing I’m going to be playing on the PGA Tour all year and I’ve chosen to check all the boxes of what you can do as a professional golfer while pinching myself a little bit.”

“At the beginning of last season, obviously it wasn’t the start I wanted, and after winning in China, it felt like I could get my PGA Tour card. Then to win three times and finish well, yeah, it gave me a lot of faith.”

But with that great feeling.

In the weeks since getting his PGA Tour card and subsequent decision to move to Florida, Penge said he has reached out to some European pros. McIlroy helped, as did Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry. “It was very good to have the support of the boys I admire,” said Penge. “Obviously this year they will be my biggest rivals, which will be fun.” Penge was also a sponge in his studies this week.

“I mean it’s a little bit different from what you get in Europe,” he said.

“… The fairways are cut really tight and the conditions are critical. So I lost a couple of golf balls just five feet off the green this week, so I’m hoping the golfers will give me a hand.”

Then there is the unloading. And the new Penge. But it seems things are looking up there, too. One way or another.

Penge is playing this week. Then the next three. Which is four weeks straight.

Which is also the exact length of time until Sophia gives birth.

Will that work, Marco?

“I play for these four weeks and then return home when our second child will be born,” he said.

“Yes, it’s been busy, moving here meant she was going to give birth here, she’s currently in Florida without her family and friends and I’m here in Torrey Pines and the next three weeks are mine.

“Yes, she was beautiful. Obviously we are both looking forward to having a second child.”

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