The golf world is abuzz with the news that Marco Penge, a rising star on the DP World Tour, has been sanctioned for betting on golf events. While the details of the situation are still unfolding, one thing is clear: this was a misstep on Penge’s part. Betting on golf events as a player is a serious breach of the rules, and it’s surprising that someone of Penge’s experience wouldn’t know better. The rules are in place to maintain the integrity of the game, and players are expected to adhere to them.

“Marco Penge has been sanctioned for betting on golf events. This might just be a stupid move on his part, if it’s a more serious problem hopefully he’ll be given the support he needs,” read the tweet by Irish On Tour. The 26-year-old English golfer on the DP World Tour has been suspended for two months and fined $2,000 for violating the tour’s integrity program. An investigation found that Penge had placed bets on multiple golf events, although he didn’t wager on himself or during tournaments he was competing in. The tour’s disciplinary panel determined that the integrity of the events wasn’t compromised, but Penge still broke the rules.

Penge’s penalties were mitigated due to his cooperation and immediate admission of the breaches. The suspension took effect on December 13, and he’ll be eligible to return to competition in mid-February. This setback comes after a challenging year for Penge, who missed 19 cuts in 28 events and narrowly secured his playing privileges for 2025. Despite this, Penge has shown resilience and determination, as evident in his thrilling 5-foot par putt at the Genesis Championship to make the cut and keep his card.

But here’s the thing: we don’t know the full story yet. Was this a one-time mistake, or is there a deeper issue at play? Many are saying if Penge is struggling with a gambling problem, then this sanction should be just the beginning. It’s easy to condemn Penge for his actions, but it’s much harder to take a nuanced approach and consider the underlying factors that may have contributed to his behavior.

What the DP World Tour has said about Marco Penge’s suspension?

The DP World Tour has released a statement regarding Marco Penge’s suspension, confirming that the English golfer has been sanctioned for breaching the PGA European Tour’s Integrity Programme1. According to the tour, an Independent Disciplinary Panel found that Penge had placed bets on multiple golf events, which is a clear violation of Regulation 3(a)(i)*2. The regulation reads, “No Covered Person shall either directly or indirectly bet or instruct any other person to bet on the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any professional or elite amateur golf event anywhere in the world.”

The tour emphasized that Penge did not bet on himself or on the progress of tournaments during the days when he was participating, and therefore, the integrity of the events was not compromised, per Golf Monthly.  The DP World Tour’s statement also noted that Penge’s immediate admission of the breach and his cooperation throughout the investigation were taken into account when determining the sanction4. As a result, Penge has been fined £2,000 and suspended from the tour for three months, with one month suspended for up to a year pending further breaches5. The tour’s statement did not provide further details on the specific events or dates involved in Penge’s betting activities.