The English golfer, Marco Penge, has been sanctioned by the DP World Tour for “breaching the PGA European Tour Integrity Programme”. According to the European circuit’s statement, it has been proven that Penge “placed bets on multiple golf events”. It has been established that the 2023 Challenge Tour winner bet on several tournaments, and the Englishman has admitted the charges.
The statement also clarified that the 26-year-old player had not bet on himself or on the outcome of the tournaments in which he participated.
As a consequence of his infraction, Penge has been fined £2,000 and suspended from the circuit for three months. However, the third month of the sanction will not have to be served for the time being, provided he does not commit further offences during the next twelve months. The sanction began on 13 December and he will not be able to return to competition until 13 February.
The rules of the DP World Tour are clear: “no player shall, directly or indirectly, bet or instruct another person to bet on the outcome, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of any elite professional or amateur golf event anywhere in the world”.
The Disciplinary Committee considered that Penge’s immediate admission of the infraction and his cooperation throughout the investigation justified a mitigation reflected in the sanction finally imposed.
