‘This means everything’: Penge silences doubters with maiden DP World Tour victory
Just eight weeks ago, Marco Penge was serving a suspension — the future of his professional golf career hanging in the balance. Today, he’s a DP World Tour winner.
In a powerful twist of fate, the 26-year-old Englishman lifted his maiden title at the Hainan Classic in China, holding his nerve down the stretch to clinch a three-shot victory over a strong field.
His closing five-under 67 on the daunting Blackstone Course at Mission Hills sealed a 17-under-par total and a hard-earned win that will resonate far beyond the fairways.
But this wasn’t just a tournament victory — it was a redemption arc in real-time.
From Ban to Breakthrough
Penge’s career came under scrutiny earlier this season when he was handed a two-month ban for placing bets on golf — a violation that could have derailed his progress indefinitely. But instead of shrinking from the spotlight, he returned with intent, sharpening his focus and embracing the pressure that followed him back onto the course.
“This means everything,” Penge said after his victory. “After everything that happened, this was personal. I needed to prove it to myself that I could come back stronger — and to prove to others that I belong out here.”
The victory not only salvaged a turbulent year but has earned him a golden ticket to next month’s US PGA Championship, thanks to his third-place finish in the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing standings.
The Battle in China
Heading into Sunday, Penge was tied at the top with China’s Xiao Bowen, but early fireworks from America’s Sean Crocker temporarily bumped the Englishman out of the lead. Trailing by one as he made the turn, Penge found his groove just when it mattered most.
A blistering stretch of birdies at 12, 13, and 14 broke the deadlock and widened the gap. Cool under pressure, he played mistake-free golf the rest of the way, leaving Crocker and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan to share second place at 14 under.
Crocker, despite a solid 66, lost steam on the back nine, while Bowen faded after his front-nine promise. But Penge, with everything to prove, played like a man with nothing to lose.
A Team Effort
Penge was quick to credit those who stood by him during the most difficult chapter of his career.
“My caddie has been everything — my anchor. And my wife, my team… I wouldn’t be holding this trophy without them,” he said. “Sometimes, the low points are what teach you who you really are.”
What’s Next?
The DP World Tour now moves to Antalya, Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Open, teeing off from May 8–11 at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort — but all eyes will be on how Penge carries this momentum into the major spotlight.
His return isn’t just a comeback. It’s a statement.
Final leaderboard
Here’s a look at the top five golfers on the final leaderboard for the Hainan Classic 2025:
