It was a simple request after all. Marco Penge, having moved to this side of the Atlantic only a few months ago, is still unfamiliar with most things and places. So he asked for help on social media. Little did he know that his innocuous plea would kick up a maelstrom.

Looking for a place to practice, the PGA Tour rookie tweeted, “Unfortunately Old palm [Golf Club] is under reconstruction this week. Is there any golf clubs in the Jupiter area willing to help me practise for the week? 🤞🏻.”

It’s not hard to understand why Penge was on the hunt for a different course to practice after his home club was shuttered for renovation.  Penge, who won three times on the DP World Tour last season, has failed to replicate the success at the top American circuit, with only one top-ten finish in 11 starts. He is missing from this week’s Cadillac Championship field because he couldn’t qualify. However, the Englishman’s tweet was misconstrued, and he was dubbed “entitled.”

One of the fans mocked him by writing, “You’re a millionaire, and you’re begging for handouts on social media 😂 pathetic.” Another enraged fan lashed out: “Marco, seriously? Quit beggin’ and go find a nice public fee course and get to work. Entitled much?” But that’s not all.

More X-users chimed in. While some suggested a few course names, others berated Penge, presuming that the Englishman was trying to use his status as a PGA Tour pro to get into public courses without paying the green fees. However, that wasn’t Penge’s intention. Perhaps the 27-year-old golfer simply asked for some course recommendations given his troubled history with multiple Florida country clubs.

After settling in West Palm Beach earlier this year, Marco Penge visited multiple clubs to join as a member. Curiously enough, most clubs rejected his application because of his casual attire. Marco Penge has previously talked about it, praising the Old Palm for its low-key, family-friendly nature. So when he tweeted for some help, he surely didn’t expect that it would land him in hot water.

Shocked by the uproar, Penge responded, “Didn’t realise asking for some help to get in touch with some golf clubs to practise for the week would get so heated. I just want to find the middle of the face 🤣🤷🏻‍♂️.”

Penge had reasons to be shocked. He was previously suspended for gambling, even though he didn’t realize he was breaching any rules. Fans understood the predicament and stood by him. Not this time, however, and Penge’s case was far from the first time a pro has faced heat for being misunderstood.

Just a few weeks back, Billy Horschel caught flak for saying that Palm Beach Gardens was playing easy because of overseeding. Some considered that Horschel was deliberately badmouthing the course. Even fan-favorite Rickie Fowler wasn’t immune. The six-time PGA Tour winner posted a screenshot of the messages he received from a troll, who sent a series of insulting texts on Instagram. While it might seem that pros are immune to getting affected by hate comments, they’re actually not.

Lexi Thompson had to take a break in the face of massive vitriol in 2019. Max Homa, who was perhaps the most engaging PGA Tour winner on social media, quit X in 2025, calling it an “awful” place and a safe haven for “Ass*****.” For Marco Penge, however, the online criticism comes at a very bad time.

Marco Penge’s struggles since shifting to the United States

Marco Penge, his wife, Sophie, and their son, Enzo, moved to the United States in January 2026. Despite an outstanding season in Europe, he has struggled to get results this year. And that’s only a part of the problems he has faced.

In 2026, the Englishman had struggled, which is why he quipped he just wanted to find the middle of the face. Marco Penge ranks 142nd in Strokes Gained: Approach to Green, 122nd in Greens in Regulation percentage, and 128th in Proximity to the Hole. He doesn’t have a secure spot at the Truist Championship as well. With the PGA Championship coming in less than 20 days, it’s time for him to step up. But outside the greens, Penge was waging a different battle.

His second son, Romeo, suffered health complications at birth. Penge and his wife endured the tough battle and were finally able to bring him home.

He clearly isn’t used to the hostile environment. Maybe he and his partner should have researched this when they came looking for homes in Jupiter back in October 2025.

“21 days later 🏡✨🎓🏥. It was finally our turn to walk out those doors. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out, told us your stories and been there for us during this difficult time. You’ll never know how much it has helped during the most challenging time of our lives❤️‍🩹,” Sophie, Penge’s wife, wrote on her Instagram.

While Penge himself is still struggling on the fairway, he would have been pleased to see his family back in shape. In fact, both Enzo and Romeo were behind the ropes with Sophie during his appearance in the 2026 Valspar Championship. That is a win for the Penges after months of struggle. Compared to that, the golf course controversy on X might seem like light work for the English pro.