Marco Penge refuses to withdraw as he prepares to tee it up with Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith.
The new DP World Tour season has drawn a stacked field to Australia, with Joaquin Niemann, Adam Scott and Ryan Fox among the headliners for the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open. But one of the most in-form players in world golf arrives with a concern few expected.
Marco Penge — who surged into Europe’s elite with three wins this year — is battling an unusual neck injury. Even so, he has made one thing clear: he is not pulling out of the Australian PGA Championship.
Marco Penge insists he will play despite unusual neck injury
Penge has quickly become one of the Tour’s breakout stars, pushing Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai and accumulating thousands of points with a trio of victories. But the Englishman admitted this week that preparation for the season-opening swing has been far from ideal.
He revealed he has required multiple physio sessions in a single day to manage pain on the right side of his neck — a rare issue for him. Penge missed the pro-am as a result, but stressed the injury is not serious and will not affect his putting. “I’ll compete this week,” he said. “I just need to get it right enough and maybe rely on the putter a bit.”
Penge excited to be grouped with Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith
One reason the 27-year-old is unwilling to withdraw is the marquee pairing awaiting him in Brisbane. Penge will open the week alongside Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith — a grouping he sees as both an honour and another learning opportunity.
“I’ll be fine tomorrow,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to kicking off the season with Min and Cam… two guys I haven’t played tons with but know well. It’s another opportunity for me to learn — and hopefully play some good golf.”
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