Golf’s DP World Tour has sanctioned English player Marco Penge after he was ruled to have breached the PGA European Tour’s Integrity Programme.
Penge, 26, was found to have placed bets on multiple golf events by an Independent Disciplinary Panel. This, the DP World Tour said, is in direct breach of Regulation 3(a)(i) of the Integrity Programme.
The Tour said Penge did not bet on himself or the progress of tournaments during days when he was participating. As such, the panel ruled that the integrity of such events had not been compromised.
However, as this was still a breach of Tour rules and regulations on betting, it warranted a sanction. As such, Penge has been issued a three-month suspension from golf, with one month suspended for 12 months pending further breaches.
The suspension came into effect on 13 December, meaning Penge cannot compete again until 13 February 2025. In addition, he has been ordered to pay a £2,000 (€2,408/$2,499) fine.
“The panel found that Penge’s immediate admission of breach and co-operation throughout the investigation warranted mitigation reflected in the eventual sanction imposed”, the Tour said.
Penge turned professional in 2017 and so far has three professional wins to his name. These include the Open de Portugal and Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2023.
Golf betting on the rise
Interest in betting on golf has increased during recent years with operators expanding their offerings for customers.
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