English golf star handed three-month suspension for gambling
Marco Penge barred from DP World Tour until February 2025 after independent panel found he breached PGA regulations
English golfer Marco Penge has been suspended for three months by the DP World Tour for placing bets on multiple golf events.
The 26-year-old was found to have placed the bets by an independent disciplinary panel, which ruled that he was in breach of the PGA Tour programme regulation 3(a)(i).
That regulation states: “No covered person shall either directly or indirectly bet or instruct any other person to bet on the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any professional or elite amateur golf event anywhere in the world.”
It was made clear that Penge did not place any wagers on his own performance, nor the progress of any tournaments he was involved in.
In turn, the panel found that the integrity of the events Penge participated in was not compromised.
Given the level of Penge’s offences, the panel found that a three-month suspension with one month suspended for a period of 12 months, pending further breaches of the programme, was a proportionate punishment alongside a £2,000 fine.
The suspension began on 13 December and will run until 13 February 2025, after which time Penge will be allowed to return to DP World Tour action.
A statement from the organisation explained: “The disciplinary panel found that Penge’s immediate admission of breach and co-operation throughout the investigation warranted mitigation reflected in the eventual sanction imposed.
“The disciplinary panel that heard the case was Philip Evans KC (chair), sport administrator Les Vernon and Legends Tour member Simon Khan. The DP World Tour will make no further comment on this matter.”
Penge, ranked 414th in the world, has made €357,078 (£294,721) in career earnings to date and has played in 40 tournaments. He won the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca, Spain and the Open de Portugal in 2023.
Penge is not the first golfer to face punishment for gambling on the sport in recent years.
Both Vince India and Jake Staiano were suspended by the PGA Tour last year for betting on tournaments.