A DP World Tour golfer learned a costly lesson about betting on the sport he loves – even if he wasn’t wagering on his own matches.
Marco Penge got himself suspended after placing bets on major tournaments and the Ryder Cup over the past two years. The 26-year-old Englishman says he had no idea he was breaking any rules since he never bet on himself or tournaments where he played.
“I genuinely thought it was OK,” Penge explained. “I was just trying to make watching golf more fun.”
Most of his bets were pretty small – averaging about 24 pounds each. In total, he made just 250 pounds in profit from all his wagers.
Here’s the interesting part: 68% of Penge’s bets happened before he even took the tour’s integrity course in March 2023. It wasn’t until a betting agency flagged his activity to tour officials in April that everything came to light.
When he finally took a deep dive into the tour’s rulebook, the truth hit him hard – all betting on professional golf was off-limits for players.
“This is all a genuine and honest mistake,” Penge said. “I’ve taken full responsibility, and I will never ever make the same mistake again.”
The young pro just barely kept his tour card last season, finishing 110th in the Race to Dubai standings. He’s currently ranked 414th in the world.
Fans won’t have to wait too long to see him back in action. Penge is planning his return at the Magical Kenya Open, which kicks off February 20th.
