Europe’s next PGA Tour star? It may be ‘modern golfer’ who hits it a 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’s there, everything from England came with them, which means nothing seemingly was outside of a box or unwrapped for a while. More is on the way, too. In four weeks, another child will arrive. The Penges will become a fivesome. 

All of it feels a bit overwhelming, Marco says. And of course you believe him, though not just because you can likely relate. 

It’s because if anyone truly understands the thought, it’s the dude who’s overwhelmed so many over the past year.

From the conqueror to the conquered. That happens, especially when that comes in short order. At this time a year ago, Penge was at home. Suspended, actually. But then he won at the end of April in China. Then he won in the middle of August in Denmark. Then he won in October in Spain. That one earned him a Masters tee time. Then came a PGA Tour card, the result of Penge’s standing in the DP World Tour’s season-long points race, and he’ll start on the circuit on Thursday, at the Farmers Insurance Open. 

There’ll be curiosity. Over his ascent. Over his drives. The internet says last year on the DP World Tour, Penge ranked first in strokes gained from the tee and that he sent tee balls 319 yards on average. But you really must watch the 27-year-old with the big dog in his hand. Or listen. (You can do so here, if you like.) Last November, at the DP World Tour’s season-ending event, your newest Grand Slam winner had at least heard the stories. 

“He’s played great,” Rory McIlroy said. “He’s sort of that modern golfer, hits it long, and seems to not really have a ton of weaknesses.

“Yeah, looking forward to seeing his game over the next couple days, and you know, with how this course sets up and how firm the fairways are, I think you’re going to see a few long drives out there.”

Was McIlroy longer than him?

“I don’t know,” he said. “He should be longer. He’s nine years younger than me.”

To overwhelm such as Penge has implies surprise, though, and few could’ve foreseen any of this, at least not last year. There’d been promise. He’d had success as an amateur. He was the winner of the year-long points race in 2023 on the then-named Challenge Tour, which gave him a spot on the DP World Tour. There, in 2024, thanks to a birdie on the last hole of his year’s last event, Penge finished 110th in the points standings, and 110 received playing status for 2025. He could build on that. That was a foundation. But then came a bombshell. There was more going on. In an interview last October with Ben Parsons of bunkered.com (which can read in full here), Penge said he’d learned in April of 2024 that he was being investigated for gambling on golf events — “I was in the shower and my wife ran in and told me about it” — and seven days before Christmas Day 2024, the DP World Tour announced he was suspended until February of 2025. 

Penge cooperated. But he said he thought the betting was done innocently. In Parsons’ story, he said he placed bets in 2022 and ’23 on majors and the Ryder Cup, and for never more than 24 euros — and never on himself. “Since I was a young boy, I’ve had bets on the majors and stuff,” he told Parsons. “I’m not a betting man, but when I’m watching sport, it adds a bit of excitement to it. I just didn’t realize that I wasn’t allowed to do anything. I knew I couldn’t bet on myself, I just didn’t know I couldn’t bet on majors. It was a massive shock.”

So was perhaps what followed 

In his first start back, he tied for 20th. 

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, N.C. In July of last year, he tied for second at the Scottish Open, behind McIlroy. 

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

The time away had been beneficial. He worked on things. In Parsons’ story, Penge said he was diagnosed with ADHD over that period, and in a press conference last November, he said that’s helped him better process situations. “I’ve got a lot of things in place if I feel a certain way or things are getting too overstimulated for my brain. Yeah, I feel much better that I understand myself.”

All of it made him reflective on Tuesday. 

“I still even now,” Penge said, “I like being here knowing that I’m going to be playing on the PGA Tour for a year and kind of ticked all the boxes in terms of what you could do as a professional golfer is kind of still pinch myself a little bit in a way. 

“At the start of last season obviously wasn’t the start how I wanted, and after winning in China, it kind of became that I could achieve getting my PGA Tour card. And then going on to win three times and have some other really good finishes, yeah, it gave me a lot of belief.”

But about that overwhelming feeling. 

In the weeks since earning his PGA Tour card and the subsequent decision to move to Florida, Penge said he’s reached out to other European pros. McIlroy’s helped, as have Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry. “It’s been really nice to have the support from guys that I idolize in a way,” Penge said. “Obviously this year they’re going to be my opponents a lot more, which will be fun.” Penge’s also been a sponge in practice rounds this week.    

“ I mean, it’s a little different to what you’re getting in Europe,” he said. 

“… The fairways are cut pretty tight and the rough’s up. So I’ve lost quite a few golf balls five yards off the fairway already this week, so hopefully the ball spotters will give me a hand.”

Then there’s the unpacking. And the newest Penge. But seems like things are sorted there, too. Somehow. 

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

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

That gonna work, Marco?

“I’m playing these four weeks and then straight home for the birth of our second child,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s been a bit hectic. For us to have moved over here, it meant that she had to give birth here. At the moment, she’s in Florida without her family and friends and I’m over at Torrey Pines and the next three weeks for me. 

“Yeah, she’s been great. Obviously we’re both really looking forward to having a second child.”