Marco Penge could not have been clearer upon winning Open de Espana that he is planning to play on the PGA Tour next year with the Englishman doing enough to earn his card Stateside.
It was always unlikely that Marco Penge would miss out on earning his PGA Tour card for 2026 after winning twice on the DP World Tour already this season.
However, victory at Open de Espana confirmed that he will get the opportunity to chase the American dream next year. Penge beat Dan Brown in a playoff in Madrid to get across the line.
Penge is arguably exactly the kind of player LIV Golf should be targeting. His rise towards the top of the game has been a rapid one. He nearly lost his card last year. There were even some who felt that Penge should have been on Luke Donald‘s Ryder Cup team for Bethpage.
Marco Penge was fairly emphatic in his desire to play on the PGA Tour
LIV are in a tough position this winter. Many of the game’s biggest names who have not previously made the jump are surely unlikely to be convinced to change their mind. The PGA Tour remains the top table for the best players on the planet.
But Penge’s stock has never been higher. So it appeared to be a big blow to LIV when the 27-year-old confirmed that he is making plans to ply his trade on the PGA Tour next year.
“I’m going to America tomorrow with my wife to find a place for when we move in January. So as far as I’m aware, I’m playing the PGA Tour next year and hopefully I’ll have a great season and finish in the playoffs there and then come back to the DP World Tour and play the rest of the season here,” he said, as reported by Ten Golf.
Penge’s comments were fairly emphatic. However, the last few years have also taught golf fans never to say never. A number of players have committed themselves to the PGA Tour before making the jump.
The phrase: ‘as far as I’m aware’ is ever so slightly intriguing, with that in mind. You can almost guarantee that LIV will attempt to make an offer to Penge in the coming weeks and months, if they have not done so already.
What Tom McKibbin said after securing his PGA Tour card before going on to join LIV Golf months later
One player who knows fairly well what is going through Penge’s mind right now is Tom McKibbin.
McKibbin had a promising first year on LIV, finishing 20th in the individual standings. He ended up ahead of teammate Tyrrell Hatton.
But at this stage last year, the Northern Irishman was in the race to earn a PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour pathway. Ultimately, he would squeeze in at the season finale in Dubai.
And what is interesting, with the benefit of hindsight, was how excited McKibbin seemed to be about playing on the PGA Tour.
“I’ve played a lot of good golf over in the States. I don’t know whether the golf courses suit me or not. I think a lot of the courses we play over here are Americanized as well so we’ll have to see, but I do think I tend to play better on some of the courses that are a little bit harder and aren’t as low scoring. I definitely just love playing golf over in the States, it’s something that I’ve always really enjoyed,” he said, as reported by Golf Monthly.
“I think a lot of the guys that play over here are good enough to go over and play well over there, so I think what those guys did this year [2024 winners Robert MacIntyre and Matthieu Pavon] was pretty cool and to be able to have that chance as well for myself this year and try and see where I can go.”
LIV are reportedly in talks to sign two recent winners on the PGA Tour. But it is hard to imagine any superstars at the peak of their powers are going to be tempted to join if they have not already done.
Penge absolutely fits the bill for the kind of player they should be targeting; someone on the cusp of superstardom. And if he did decide to sign with LIV, he would clearly be far from the first player to change their mind.
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