English golfer Marco Penge admits he is “in disbelief” as he prepares for one of the biggest weeks of his career — entering the penultimate DP World Tour event with a real chance of overtaking Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

The 27-year-old from Clitheroe has enjoyed a breakout season, winning three times on the European Tour and cementing his status as one of Britain’s brightest golfing talents. This week, he’ll go head-to-head with Race leader McIlroy for the first time at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, joined by Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton, who currently sits third in the standings.

It marks a remarkable turnaround for Penge, whose 2025 began under a cloud of controversy. Earlier in the year, he was handed a three-month suspension — with one month suspended — for breaching DP World Tour betting regulations. Although he hadn’t wagered on himself or any event in which he was competing, the punishment served as a sharp wake-up call. An independent panel later confirmed that the integrity of those events “had not been compromised.”

From Suspension to Success

Penge returned to competition with modest expectations, aiming simply to break into the top 50 of the Tour rankings. What followed far surpassed even his own ambitions.

“After being suspended, my goal was just to finish inside the top 50,” he told BBC Sport. “I’ve probably had to reset my goals four or five times this year. I got into The Open after finishing third in South Africa, then won in China. Winning once was always a goal — winning multiple times in a season was another, and that happened.”

His victory at the Open de España in late summer secured him a debut at next year’s Masters, along with a PGA Tour card for 2026.

“I’m still in disbelief that I’m in this position,” Penge said. “Not because I doubt my ability, but because of how quickly everything has happened.”

Facing Golf’s Benchmark

Now just under 500 points behind McIlroy, Penge could feasibly dethrone the Northern Irishman, who is chasing a record seventh order of merit title worth around £1.5 million. But Penge insists he’s keeping things in perspective.

“It’s going to be fun,” he said, smiling. “Rory’s the best player of my generation and someone whose game mine is quite similar to. I hit it far, I’m an aggressive driver of the ball, and I’ve got a bit of flair. I’m looking forward to seeing how I measure up because he’s the benchmark.”

Having narrowly retained his Tour card last season, Penge knows the value of staying grounded. “I look at this purely from a learning standpoint,” he explained. “If I go out there being too intense or over-competitive, I’ll just pile on pressure. I like to play things down — that’s how I approach life. I just want to take it in stride, enjoy the moment, and have some fun.”

After a year that began with uncertainty and self-reflection, Marco Penge’s rise has been one of golf’s most compelling stories — and now, with just two events remaining, he stands on the brink of something extraordinary.