Marco Penge Eager to Play Alongside Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi
Marco Penge is thrilled to compete alongside Masters Champion Rory McIlroy for the first time at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. After securing his tour card in the final event of last year's regular season in South Korea, Penge has had an impressive 2025 campaign, becoming the first player to win three times this season. His victories include the Hainan Classic, Danish Golf Championship, and last month's Open de España presented by Madrid.
Current Standings and Upcoming Challenges
With just two DP World Tour events left this season, Penge ranks second on the Race to Dubai leaderboard, right behind World Number Two Rory McIlroy. In the opening two rounds at Yas Links, Penge will be grouped with McIlroy and Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton.
Admiration and Anticipation
"For me, he (McIlroy) is the best player in my generation of kind of watching golf," said Penge. "He's been so successful, and I think a lot of guys in my age group really look up to him not just as a golfer but as a person."
Penge looks forward to measuring his own game against McIlroy’s to identify areas for improvement. He shared,
"I compare a lot of parts of my game to him. I am excited to see what I think my strengths are compared to him on Thursday and see where I can improve."
He feels ready for the experience, saying,
"I know on Thursday morning when I step on the tee I'm going to have some adrenaline because I'm playing with one of the best players in the world for the first time. I don't think I'm going to be too nervous."
Summary
Marco Penge eagerly anticipates his first competitive rounds alongside Rory McIlroy, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to benchmark his skills against a top player as he aims to close the gap at the top of the rankings.