The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf all partner with various betting companies, but players themselves are prohibited from placing bets of any kind.
This balance is difficult, especially since golf broadcasts these days are peppered with gambling advertisements. But rules are rules, and British player Marco Penge breached the European Tour's integrity program by betting on multiple golf events other than his own.
As a result, the DP World Tour suspended Penji for three months, effective December 13th. This means Penji will be able to return to the tour on February 13, 2025, sandwiched between the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Magical Kenya Open. Penji last played at the ISPS Handa Australian Open in late November, where he tied for 27th place.
DP World Tour also fined Penge £2,000, a modest amount considering this was his first offense. However, if Penji continues to bet on professional golf events, his suspension will be extended by one month at a time. If multiple violations occur, DP World Tour could impose a one-year suspension on him.
The suspension comes after Penge, ranked 409th in the world, finished 80th in the Race to Dubai standings, completing his first full year on the DP World Tour. He ranked fourth on tour in driving distance and averaged an impressive 321.66 yards off the tee, but that didn't translate into great success. Penge failed to finish in the top 10 in 2024, with his best result coming at the Irish Open at Royal County Down. The Englishman finished the week in a tie for 12th place, eight strokes behind winner Rasmus Hugaard.
He will now take three months off the tour to practice and refrain from gambling.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
