Race to Dubai: Marco Penge to Rival Rory McIlroy for Title
English golfer Marco Penge is preparing for the DP World Tour's penultimate event with a chance to win the Race to Dubai. The 27-year-old, regarded as British golf's most promising male talent this season with three victories, will play alongside Race leader Rory McIlroy for the first time at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Penge initially aimed just to qualify for the season-ending play-off events in the Middle East, with the final tournament—the DP World Tour Championship—taking place in Dubai next week. The Clitheroe golfer attributes part of his success this year to a recent diagnosis of ADHD, which he says has positively influenced his game.
Earlier in the year, Penge was suspended by the DP World Tour for betting on multiple golf events, though not on himself or tournaments he played in. An independent disciplinary panel found the integrity of those events was not compromised. He received a three-month ban, with one month suspended for a year.
Now, Penge stands as McIlroy's main rival for the prestigious Race to Dubai title, which this year includes a bonus of approximately £1.5 million.
"To finish top 50 on the rankings was my main goal at the start of the year after being suspended," Penge told BBC Sport.
Marco Penge has transformed from a cautious competitor to a leading contender for the Race to Dubai, challenging established stars following overcoming early-season setbacks.