Marco Penge revealed he has his sights set on making Europe's Ryder Cup Team after continuing his fine recent form by tying the course record at The Belfry Hotel & Resort to surge into contention at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Fresh from winning his second DP World Tour title in four months at last week's Danish Golf Championship, the in-form Englishman put on a show for his home crowd on day three, carding nine birdies and no bogeys in a flawless third-round 63 to jump to ten under par and set the early clubhouse target.
The 27-year-old sits second only to Rory McIlroy on the Race to Dubai Rankings and knows a victory this week would send him top - but there is another possible prize Penge's phenomenal performances have put him in line for.
Although he can no longer qualify automatically for next month's Ryder Cup, his displays will surely have captured the attention of European Captain Luke Donald, who names his six Captain’s Picks on September 1.
Speaking about the possibility of making Donald's Team, Penge said: "That has been my goal ever since I felt I had the chance to be in the mix to be even talked about.
"I sensed a couple of weeks ago that there was an opportunity. I wasn’t meant to play last week and the reason I did was to have more events to prove something.
Marco Penge ties the course record and takes the lead after his third round 🙌#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/SeyUfYyR5I
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 23, 2025
"Winning there was great but at the end of the day, it is not up to me. I am just trying to play good golf whatever the outcome is.
"At the start of this year I was never in this position so if they want to take me then great but if not I'll just carry on."
Penge went into the weekend on home soil on one under par after posting scores of 71 and 72 on Thursday and Friday respectively but he was back to his best on Saturday morning.
He flew out of the traps with a hat-trick of birdies at the first, second and third before further gains on the fifth and ninth took him to the turn in 31.
Two more lengthy birdie putts dropped at the tenth and 11th to catapult Penge into contention and he picked up another shot on the 13th from close range to tie the lead.
After watching his chip on the 14th hit the hole but stay above ground, Penge took the outright lead with a birdie on the 15th before parring his way home.
He added: "I am just trying to win, that is what I am here to do.
"I want to get as many points on the Race to Dubai as I can. Rory is 600-700 ahead of me. I want to make sure that when I go to Abu Dhabi, I have a chance to catch him so that is what I am focusing on."
