In April 2024, Dubai, Marco Penge was in the shower when his wife Sophie, burst through the door. She held her phone, panic evident on her face. The DP World Tour had just sent an email about a betting investigation. In that instant, Penge’s world collapsed.

“I’m crying. I’m crying,”Marco Penge recalled on the Life on Tour podcast, filmed ahead of the BMW PGA Championship in September 2025. His wife wrapped her arms around him. The 27-year-old couldn’t process what he’d done. “Oh my god, what have I done? What have I done?” The words tumbled out between sobs. He’d placed golf bets of £2,500 over three years, with a £150 profit overall. The next six months became a living nightmare.

During the period, Penge kept the investigation secret from everyone except his caddie, Max Bill. “Playing for six months with that inside, not no one knowing and me not knowing what the outcome was going to be like, that is like the hardest time for me,” he explained to hosts George Harper Jr. and John E. Morgan. He couldn’t even discuss it with his closest friends. Penge revealed in an earlier interview that the stress left him feeling like he’d let everyone down, all while silently awaiting a verdict.

In December 2024, the DP World Tour officially announced Marco Penge’s suspension: A three-month ban, with one month suspended for 12 months pending further breaches, and a £2,000 fine. The ban was applied retroactively from December 13. Amidst the disappointment, Penge was also relieved, though.

“It was actually a relief in the end once everything had come out and was clear and in the air,” Penge admitted. The support overwhelmed him. More than 100 players reached out. “The support I got was like more than you ever thought,” he said. But the controversy highlighted a crucial misunderstanding.

Penge genuinely believed betting was acceptable if he didn’t wager on himself or tournaments he competed in. “I never had a bet on myself. Never had a bet on a tournament that I played in. Just didn’t realize you couldn’t have a bet in golf,” he explained. Most bets were on majors and the Ryder Cup. Pure entertainment value.

Sixty-eight percent of his bets came before he took the integrity program education course in March 2023. The independent disciplinary panel noted his immediate admission and full cooperation warranted mitigation. The three-month break became transformative for him in hindsight.

Penge sat down with his new coach, Alex Buckner, for three hours. They used a whiteboard. Listed what worked. Identified what needed improvement. “Right what what needs to be better, what, you know, what parts are good, what parts need to be tons better,” he recalled. They restructured his entire approach. Made every day structured, created consistency in practice.

Penge’s perspective, however, collided directly with the DP World Tour’s strict rules. The organization has long maintained a zero-tolerance policy on betting, leaving no room for misinterpretation, even if a player wagers only on events they are not competing in

DP World Tour’s zero-tolerance betting policy

The DP World Tour’s Regulation 3(a)(i) leaves no room for interpretation. No covered person shall bet on any professional or elite amateur golf event anywhere in the world. Period. The rule applies to players, caddies, family members, instructors, and tournament staff. The PGA Tour implemented similar comprehensive integrity programs on January 1, 2018, partnering with Genius Sports for bet monitoring systems. And the timing wasn’t coincidental.

 The 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for states to legalize sports wagering. Americans have since wagered over $220 billion on sports. The tours needed protection against potential corruption. Other professionals have faced similar sanctions, too.

Korn Ferry Tour players Vince India and Jake Staiano received suspensions in October 2023. India got six months. Staiano got three months. Staiano Penge revealed in an earlier interview that he wagered just $116.20 total in 2021. Like Penge, neither bet on events they competed in. These consequences extend beyond suspensions.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan emphasized that even one incident could cause irreparable damage. The integrity programs exist to ensure tournaments always reflect players’ best efforts. The blueprint worked.

Penge returned on February 20, 2025, at the Magical Kenya Open. Then came his breakthrough. The Hainan Classic in April. Victory by three strokes. His first DP World Tour title. Two more victories followed. The Danish Golf Championship in August. The Open de España in October via a playoff.

Penge finished second in the Race to Dubai behind only Rory McIlroy. His world ranking soared from 461st at the start of the year to 31st by October. The suspension that nearly destroyed his career ultimately saved it. “Still to this day, it’s the same plan. It’s the same blueprint,” Penge reflected. Sometimes the most challenging moments create the strongest foundations.