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Read Full BioMarco Penge sealed his third European Tour title on Sunday, winning the Open de España, and the Englishman says a betting ban helped reignite his career.
Penge sealed the win in Madrid in a playoff, beating fellow countryman Daniel Brown. This was his third title since returning from a suspension for gambling, following victories in the Hainan Classic and Danish Golf Championship earlier this year.
In December last year, Penge was given a three-month ban (one month suspended) and a £2,000 fine for violating the DP World Tour’s betting rules.
Penge had placed bets on major golf events and the Ryder Cup between 2022 and 2023. His average stake was £24 and his profit was around £250.
Penge Shocked by Betting Rules
In an interview with Bunkered, he admitted to placing casual bets when watching sports. He said, “Since I was a young boy, I’ve had bets on the majors and stuff. I’m not a betting man, but when I’m watching sport, it adds a bit of excitement to it.”
However, the golfer said he did not know that placing bets on events where he was not participating violated the tour rules. He added, “I just didn’t realise that 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 majors. It was a massive shock.”
As with many professional sports, golf (via the DP World Tour or PGA Tour) enforces strict integrity policies banning players from betting on tournaments, regardless of whether they are competing in them. Players are free to wager on other sports, but any golf bets are prohibited.
Other strict rules around gambling are coming under scrutiny, and the NCAA is considering relaxing its rules to allow college athletes to gamble on pro sports.
Suspension Led to Penge’s ADHD Diagnosis
While the betting investigation caused Penge anxiety and led to him missing cuts at several tournaments, he said the eventual suspension was a “blessing in disguise.”
During his suspension, he underwent a doctor’s assessment and learned of his ADHD condition. He attributes his ADHD as the reason he could not recall the gambling integrity program that the tour had enrolled him in back in 2023. This warned players about placing bets on tournaments, even if they were not directly participating.
After his diagnosis, Penge was able to make adjustments to his life and playing style. During his suspension, he changed his swing coach and adapted his learning approach to accommodate his condition.
The struggle of going through the investigation has also given him a better ability to deal with the pressure of leading tournaments.
He said, “People being in a position to win can find it quite daunting. After what I’ve been through the past year, the adversity that I’ve had to deal with, I feel like that played a massive part when I was walking to the first tee on Sunday. I said to myself, ‘I want to enjoy these moments. This is what we do it for.’ I’ve been through enough in my life to prove to myself that I’m strong enough to deal with it.”
Penge is now at his highest-ever ranking at No. 52 in the world.
