The DP World Tour has suspended English golfer Marco Penge for violating regulations by placing bets on multiple events.
Violation Details
Marco Penge, 26, from Horsham, United Kingdom, has received a two-month suspension from the DP World Tour following a disciplinary panel’s discovery that he placed bets on several tournaments. Notably, Penge did not bet on his own performance or on days he was competing, which led the panel to conclude that he did not compromise the integrity of the events.
As part of his punishment, Penge has been fined £2,000 ($2,539) and will serve a three-month ban, with one month suspended for a year, pending any additional breaches of the tour’s integrity program, until February 2025. This penalty was reduced due to Penge’s prompt acknowledgment of his actions and full cooperation with the investigation.
Impact on Penge’s Career
Currently ranked 414th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Penge narrowly retained his tour card by finishing 110th in the Race to Dubai standings. A crucial birdie on his final hole of the season secured his position within the top 114 players, ensuring his playing privileges for the upcoming year.
Penge’s suspension will overlap with four regular tournaments and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic Rolex Series event at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai from January 16-19. This event, featuring a $9,000,000 prize fund, is part of a series considered one of the most significant initiatives in the DP World Tour’s history, elevating premier world-class golf tournaments into unmissable sporting occasions.
Penge’s delayed return could hinder his efforts to retain his tour card, especially after finishing the year with 19 missed cuts in 28 events. Recently highlighted on the DP World Tour’s social media, Penge ensured he made the cut and kept his hopes alive for securing playing privileges for 2025 by sinking a 5-foot par putt at the Genesis Championship in South Korea. He described the putt as the most nerve-wracking moment of his career.
Suspension Timeline
The suspension officially began on December 13, 2024, and Penge is eligible to return to competition on February 13, 2025. His last tournament appearance was in November at the Australian Open, where he finished tied for 27th place.
In February 2023, the National Council on Problem Gambling announced that the PGA Tour joined its Leadership Circle in support of efforts to mitigate gambling harm.
