England’s Marco Penge, one of the DP World Tour’s brightest stars this season, narrowly missed out on a spot in Team Europe’s 2025 Ryder Cup roster, despite a stellar campaign that saw him climb to second in the Race to Dubai rankings.
European captain Luke Donald announced his six wildcard picks on Monday, opting for experienced players like Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick, leaving no room for the burgeoning 27-year-old bomber.
Penge’s 2025 was nothing short of remarkable. After narrowly retaining his tour card last year, he secured two DP World Tour victories, the Hainan Classic in April and the Danish Golf Championship in August, where he outlasted Rasmus Hojgaard with a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole. His power-packed game, highlighted by a course-record 64 in Denmark and a tied-second finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, sparked serious Ryder Cup buzz. Many believed his long-hitting style would have been ideal for Bethpage Black’s demanding 7,426-yard layout.
However, Donald prioritized experience for the challenging away match in New York, selecting a team with 11 of 12 players from the 2023 Ryder Cup victory in Rome.
Penge, who finished 14th in the Ryder Cup qualifying standings, faced an uphill battle as a rookie, with pundits noting the risk of debuting in front of Bethpage’s famously raucous crowds. A past betting violation, which led to a three-month DP World Tour suspension in December 2024, may have also factored into Donald’s decision, despite Penge’s strong redemption arc.
“No hard feelings,” Penge said, gracious in defeat. “I’ve learned a lot about myself this year. To get this close proves I can compete at the highest level. I’ll keep pushing for 2027 at Adare Manor.” With his undeniable talent and newfound focus, Penge’s Ryder Cup dream remains very much alive.
