Marco Penge excited about big-hitting battle with ‘best in generation’ Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi

Marco Penge Eager for Clash with Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi

Marco Penge is excited about the opportunity to surpass Rory McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. The two will face off in a high-stakes battle at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship held at Yas Links.

Penge’s Rapid Rise and Recent Success

The 27-year-old English golfer has climbed the ranks impressively since retaining his tour card at last season's final event. Despite a three-month suspension by the DP World Tour in December—for betting on golf tournaments without wagering on himself or events he played in—Penge has had a remarkable 2025 season. He secured victories at the Hainan Classic, Danish Golf Championship, and the Open de España, earning one of ten PGA Tour cards.

Current Standings and Rivalry

Entering the week, Penge sits second behind Rory McIlroy, the current Masters champion. McIlroy aims to claim his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy as the top European player at the upcoming DP World Tour Championship.

"Obviously my goal once I didn't qualify for the Ryder Cup— I think I played 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."

Penge admires McIlroy and has never played alongside the Northern Irish star. As the world number 29, he is keen to test his skills against one of his golfing heroes.

Looking Ahead

The upcoming championship in Abu Dhabi presents a pivotal moment for Penge to challenge McIlroy and possibly take the lead in the Race to Dubai.

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The Irish Independent The Irish Independent — 2025-11-04

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