Europe’s Next PGA Tour Star? It could be the ‘modern golfer’ hitting it a mile

The gang is in Palm Beach now. Marco. Sofia. Enzo, their son who turns 2 this year. Otis, their golden retriever. And because they’re all there, everything from England came with them, meaning nothing was out of a box or unpacked for a while. More is on the way, too. After four weeks, another baby will come. The obstacles will become five.

It all feels a bit overwhelming, says Marco. And of course you believe it, though not just because you’re likely to relate.

That’s because if anyone really gets the point, it’s the guy who’s crushed so much over the past year.

From the conqueror to the conquered. This happens, especially when it comes in short order. At this time a year ago, money was at home. Suspended, actually. But then he won at the end of April in China. Then he won in mid-August in Denmark. He then won in October in Spain. He gave him a time for Masters. A PGA Tour card came next, the result of Penge’s stay in the points race during the DP World Tour season, and he will hit the circuit on Thursday at Open Farmers Insurance.

There will be curiosity. On his ascension. On his discs. The internet says Last year on the DP World Tour, Penge was ranked first in strokes gained off the tee and that he averaged 319 yards off the tee. But you really should LOOKING The 27-year-old with the big dog in his hand. Or listen. (You can do this hereif you like.) Last November, at the DP World Tour’s season-ending event, your newest Grand Slam winner at least heard the stories.

“He played great” Rory McIlroy said. “He’s a modern golfer, he hits it long and he doesn’t really seem to have too many weaknesses.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing his play over the next couple of days, and you know, with the way this course is set up and how consistent the fairways are, I think you’re going to see some long drives out there.”

Was McIlroy taller than him?

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

To sink like Penge means surprise, though, and few could have predicted any of this, at least not last year. There were promises. He had been successful as an amateur. He was the winner of the one-year points race in the year 2023 in the tournament then called the Challenge, which earned him a spot on the DP World Tour. there, in the year 2024thanks to a birdie on the final hole of his final event of the year, Penge finished 110th in the points standings and 110 earned playing status for 2025. He could build on that. This 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 be read in full here), Penge said he learned in April 2024 that he was being investigated for gambling on golf events — “I was in the shower and my wife ran up and told me about it” — and seven days before Christmas 2024, the PD world tour announced it was suspended until February 2025.

Penge cooperated. But he said he thought the bets were made innocently. In Parsons’ account, he said he placed bets in 2022 and ’23 on majors and the Ryder Cup, and never for more than €24 – and never on himself. “Ever since I was a young man, I’ve been betting on degrees and stuff,” he told Parsons. “I’m not a betting man, but when I’m watching sports, it adds to the excitement. I just didn’t realize 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 the majors. It was a big shock.”

That was probably what happened next

In his first start, he tied for 20th.

Six starts after that, he won in China.

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

Before the end of the year, 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 during that period, and at a press conference last November, he said it helped him process situations better. “I have a lot of things in place if I’m feeling a certain way or if things are being too stimulating for my brain. Yeah, I feel a lot better about understanding myself.”

All of which made him reflective on Tuesday.

“Even now,” Penge said, “I love being here knowing that I’m going to be playing on the PGA Tour for a year and ticking all the boxes as far as what you can do as a professional golfer is still pushing myself a little bit in a way.

“At the beginning of last season obviously the start wasn’t the way I wanted it to be, and after I won in China, it became possible to get my PGA Tour card. And then I went on to win three times and have some other really good finishes, yeah, it gave me a lot of confidence.”

But for that overwhelming feeling.

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

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

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

Then there is the unpacking. And the newest Pledge. But it looks like things have settled down there as well. Somehow.

Pawn is playing this week. Then the other three. Which is four weeks in a row.

Which is also the exact length of time until Sofia is born.

Will this work, Marko?

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

“Yeah, it’s been a little hectic. For us to have moved here, it meant she had to give birth here. Right now, she’s in Florida without her family and friends and I’m in Torrey Pines and the next three weeks to myself.

“Yes, she’s been great. Of course we’re both looking forward to having a second child.”

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