Golf has witnessed its share of enduring romances between childhood sweethearts. Gary Player met Vivienne Verwey when he was just 13, proposing at 15 and staying together for 64 years until her passing in 2021. Scottie Scheffler found his soulmate, Meredith Scudder, in high school, marrying her in 2020 after years of long-distance dating through college. Now, Marco Penge and Sophie Lamb are adding their names to this exclusive list.

The DP World Tour star opened up about his relationship with Sophie during a recent episode of Life on Tour, presented by Buffalo Trace. Marco revealed that he first met Sophie when they were both just 14 years old. They started dating around February 2015, when they were 15 and 16. “We met well, we first met when we were 14 and started dating, as you could say, when we were about six, 15, 16,” Marco explained on the podcast.

He described their early communication as “sending emails and SMS sort of stuff, you know, childhood sweetheart.” More than a decade later, Marco still can’t imagine life without her. “I’ve been with her for over 10 years now and yeah, I can’t really remember life without her,” he shared. The couple married in July 2023 after their decade-long relationship.

Sophie’s support has proven invaluable throughout Marco’s career. He spends 30 to 35 weeks a year away from home, competing across the DP World Tour circuit. “She’s so supportive. I couldn’t ask honestly couldn’t ask for anyone better,” Marco emphasized. He credits her with playing a massive part in his success. “I’ve definitely you know my success is big. She’s played a massive part in that,” he said.

Their partnership faced a significant test when Marco received a three-month suspension for betting violations. Sophie stood by him through the entire ordeal. “The betting thing for example. Yeah. She’s there. She’s got my back through thick and thin,” Marco revealed. The suspension period allowed him precious time at home during a crucial moment in their life.

In June 2024, the couple welcomed their son Enzo into the world. The couple is now expecting their second child. “Can’t wait, you know, the first one, little Enzo’s top boy and looking forward to the second,” Marco shared excitedly on the podcast. Sophie balances motherhood with supporting Marco’s career, a juggling act Marco deeply appreciates. “Obviously, doing a great job being a mom. You know it can’t be hard for her with me being away 30 35 weeks a year,” he acknowledged. “I couldn’t thank her enough,” Marco added simply.

Marco Penge and Sophie Lamb: When two golfers built a life together

What sets Marco and Sophie’s story apart is their shared competitive background. Before romance blossomed, they were both rising stars in amateur golf. In 2013 and 2014, they became the first Boys’ and Girls’ Fairhaven Trophy Champions to successfully defend their titles in consecutive years.

Sophie wasn’t just Marco’s girlfriend. She was a serious competitor in her own right. The Lancashire native represented Great Britain & Ireland at the 2018 Curtis Cup at age 20 and captured the 2016 British Women’s Open Amateur Stroke-play Championship.

Just a year after they started dating, Marco and Sophie won the prestigious Sunningdale Foursomes title in March 2016. This was their first competitive outing as a partnership. Marco battled through food poisoning on the final day, chipping in on the 14th hole to seal their 5&4 victory. Sophie turned professional in October 2018, signing with Ping and Adidas. However, she retired from competitive golf in June 2022. She hasn’t picked up a club in three years now.

Understanding golf’s unique demands gives their partnership an edge. “It takes one to know one doesn’t it? You got one golfer, you both golfers know one another,” the podcast hosts observed. Sophie’s expertise was her short game, where she clearly outshone Marco. “Short game joke. Yeah. Wasn’t the best part of life,” Marco laughed, acknowledging his struggles compared to Sophie’s mastery around the greens. She lived the tour life herself, understanding the pressure and mental toll of professional competition. Now she channels that experience into supporting Marco while raising their growing family.