U.S. Open: PGA Tour star confirms next start after taking break for health issues
England's Marco Penge, who is playing his rookie season on the PGA Tour, has confirmed he will make his competitive return at the beginning of July.
Marco Penge has confirmed when he will return to competitive action.
The PGA Tour rookie is a notable absentee at this week's U.S. Open.
Last November, the 27-year-old Englishman came down with a virus just before the DP World Tour's playoffs in the Middle East and has been battling a range of symptoms ever since.
Penge has made 12 starts on the PGA Tour this year - including the Masters and PGA Championship - but decided to take a break after the second men's major of the year to try and identify the issue.
MRI scans on his brain, head, neck have ruled out anything serious, Penge said.
After five weeks away from the sport, Penge has confirmed his next start will be on the DP World Tour at the beginning of July.
He will peg it up at the BMW International Open in Germany over 2-5 July.
"After having five weeks on the sidelines and another two weeks ahead of me to get things right with my team, I'm aiming to return on the DP World Tour in Germany, one of my favourite tournaments of the year," he wrote on Instagram
"I have my last specialist appointment today and I'm hopeful I’m good to go. Myself and my team have worked as hard as we can to get the answers we needed to the health problems i was experiencing.
"After five weeks of no golf and putting the work in every day on my body and health I'm feeling much more myself! I can't wait to get back at it, see you out there."
When asked by his followers why he wasn't making his return in the United States, Penge clarified that he was told by a specialist not to risk flying long haul.
"Baby steps," he added.
Tournament | Position |
Farmers Insurance Open | MC |
WM Phoenix Open | MC |
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | T64 |
The Genesis Invitational | T16 |
THE PLAYERS Championship | MC |
Valspar Championship | T4 |
Texas Children's Houston Open | MC |
Valero Texas Open | T21 |
Masters Tournament | T49 |
RBC Heritage | T77 |
Zurich Classic of New Orleans | T30 |
PGA Championship | MC |
Penge is currently playing his rookie season on the PGA Tour.
Many high-profile figures in the game, such as Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, believe the Crawley native has the potential to land a major championship in his career and represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Last season, some suggested Penge had an outside chance to be included in Luke Donald's dozen that headed to Bethpage Black in New Yorrk.
Penge, who finished 14th in the European points list, secured three victories on the DP World Tour.
He will undoubtedly believe he has every chance of making his Ryder Cup debut next September in Adare Manor.
His 2025 season was all the more impressive given he began the year serving a suspension for gambling on the sport.
Penge never bet on himself or tournaments he participated in.
He later told of how the break from the sport was a blessing in disguise.
"It's made me stronger and now I know to read things a bit more thoroughly and not be as blasé with stuff," he said. "It's made me a better person."
Ben Smith joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
