Marco Penge ready for power showdown with Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi
Marco Penge is eager for the opportunity to challenge Rory McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai and test his game against one of golf’s biggest hitters during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links.
The 27-year-old Englishman has seen a rapid ascent since retaining his tour card at the final event of last season. In December, he was suspended by the DP World Tour for three months—one of which was deferred for a year—due to betting on golf tournaments, though he neither wagered on himself nor on competitions he played in.
After serving the suspension, Penge returned stronger in 2025, capturing wins at the Hainan Classic, the Danish Golf Championship, and the Open de España. These victories secured him one of the ten coveted PGA Tour cards. Currently ranked second, he trails Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who aims to seal his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy as Europe’s number one at the upcoming DP World Tour Championship.
"Obviously my goal once I didn’t qualify for the Ryder Cup — I think I played the Irish Open, and I thought, now my goal is to catch Rory," Penge said. "That goal is kind of over in a way, but now that I’ve won in Spain and got me back in the mix, I’m trying to win this week or next week or just play as good as I can and see where that ends up."
McIlroy, 36, is one of Penge’s golfing idols. Having never played alongside the Northern Irish star, Penge, the world number 29, is excited to measure his game against McIlroy’s at last.
Author’s summary:
Penge’s breakthrough season sets up a thrilling clash with his hero McIlroy, marking a major moment in the Race to Dubai and his ascent in world golf.