“It’s not going to be easy, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Marco Penge is excited to begin a new chapter in his career as a dual member on the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR as he approaches the end of a breakout year.
Less than weeks on from finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy on the 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings, the Englishman is teeing it up this week at the BMW Australian PGA Championship as a new season on the DP World Tour begins.
Having only just retained his playing rights at the end of his rookie campaign in 2024, Penge was the only player to win three titles during the most season and arrives Down Under as the top-ranked golfer as the World Number 30.
With the 27-year-old set to break new ground during 2026 by playing a global schedule across two tours, he is eyeing a strong start to the Race to Dubai with an appearance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player at Sun City to follow next month.
“Obviously being in the position to have won the Race to Dubai this year is something that I really enjoyed,” he reflected as he set out his objectives for the year ahead.
“It was seriously hard to try and take Rory down, but I gave it a pretty good shot in the end.
“So, this [the DP World Tour] is a place in my heart, it’s what I resonate to and tournaments that I watched as the kids, so I still want to play here as much as possible. Hence why I’m here this week.
“To be in contention to win the Race to Dubai is a big goal of mine and from the PGA TOUR standpoint, to be in contention as much as possible.
“It’s a big unknown and a big ask still. I’m fully aware that it is a massive change. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Penge, a graduate of the HotelPlanner Tour in 2023, claimed his maiden DP World Tour victory in April’s Hainan Classic and then added the Danish Golf Championship and the Open de España in a six-month stretch that has transformed his career.
Speaking after the DP World Tour Championship earlier this month, he described 2025 as “the year of my life” and says his success is one he attributes to growing as a person both on and off the course.
“The big one for me is obviously the structure that I have in place,” he said.
“I’ve been super consistent this year. It’s hard to think of a round a golf where I didn’t play very well, whereas last year it was more the opposite.
“So, I mean I’ve become a father last year as well, so I probably just matured as a person and learned so much off my first year playing the DP World Tour.
“Your first year as a rookie out is not easy, it’s a new environment for you to find your feet and holding that fighting career, giving myself the chance to play well on this tour was kind of the start of that.”
Such was his form midway through the year – including a tie for second on the Rolex Series stage at the Genesis Scottish Open along with back-to-back top tens after his win in Denmark – Penge was firmly in the picture for inclusion in Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team at Bethpage.
While he was “pretty gutted” to miss out, the recognition he has received from leading members of the European ranks has confirmed to him he is on the right path to further his career progress.
Asked to pick out a moment of congratulations that has stuck with him, he said: “Probably the experience I had in Abu Dhabi and Dubai [at the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
“The Ryder Cup boys were there and to kind of feel like I’ve earned their respect, and all of the guys were coming back to me congratulating me and saying how good of a job I’ve done.
“So, when you get praised from the best players in the world, it’s a pretty good sign.”
Such is his newfound standing in the world game, Penge is among the pre-tournament favourites this week and he has been drawn alongside Australian home favourites Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith over the opening two rounds at Royal Queensland.
While his pre-tournament practice has been impeded by a neck injury, he is looking forward to the chance to perform in front of the Australian crowds in a featured grouping.
“I’ll be fine tomorrow; I’ll be playing regardless of how it feels and might have to improvise a little bit, but that’s fine,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to kicking off the season with Min and Cam tomorrow morning; two guys I haven’t played tons of golf with but know fairly well. It’s another opportunity for me to learn and hopefully I can play some good golf.”
