England’s Marco Penge admits there’s nothing to be scared of when he tees-up alongside reigning DP World No. 1 and Masters champion Rory McIlroy in Thursday’s start to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championships in the UAE capital.
It will be first time the duo will have played alongside one another and with Penge competing for a first time in both the HSBC backed event and next week’s 2025 season-ending DP World Tour Championship, an event McIlroy has won on three occasions since 2012.
Penge burst onto the 2024 DP World Tour having clinched the 2023 No. 1 title on the secondary Hotel Planner Tour.
He tees-up this week a brilliant triple winner on this year’s DP World Tour schedule while McIlroy is a four time winner worldwide – two regular PGA Tour victories ahead of his Masters triumph and more-recently winning a first 2025 DP World Tour title with a second career ‘home’ Irish Open.
As well, McIlroy’s been crowned European No. 1 on six occasions since a first in 2012 and also reigned supreme for the past three years.
NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF ….
Admits @DPWorldTour No. 2⃣ @PengeMarco teeing-up for a first time alongside @McIlroyRory in this week’s @ADGolfChamps
“I am excited to see what I think my strengths are compared to Rory & see where I can improve”
See: https://t.co/Il2abPZZFQ… pic.twitter.com/s8ZLRGMlr8
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 4, 2025
Mathematically Penge could deny McIlroy the money-list tile trailing given the 27-year-old Lancashire golfer is just 441.32 points adrift of McIlroy for the No. 1 crown.
Penge was asked his thoughts of teeing-up alongside McIlroy at 9.23am local UAE time Thursday.
“It will be my first time (playing alongside McIlroy)”, said.
“I actually did ask him in Ireland a couple months ago to get a practise round at some point but haven’t crossed paths and timing’s not worked out. Yeah, I thought I’d try and get a practice round with him next week. I think it would be nice”.
The World No. 29 was then asked:
Q. Has that been the goal to play with him?
MARCO PENGE: Yeah, definitely. For me, he’s the best player in my generation of kind of watching golf. He’s been so successful, and I think a lot of guys in my age group really look up to him not just as a golfer but as a person.
Yeah, I compare a lot of parts of my game to him. I am excited to see what I think my strengths are compared to him on Thursday and see where I can improve.
Q. You don’t seem to be intimidated but will there be any thinking, “Oh, my God”?
MARCO PENGE: Yeah, you can feeling — I know on Thursday morning when I step on the tee I’m going to have some adrenaline because I’m playing with one of the best players in the world for the first time. I don’t think I’m going to be too nervous. It’s purely the adrenaline, similar to how I felt in the playoff at the Spanish Open. I’ve got a lot of things in place to prepare for that. Fully aware of it already in my head that that’s how I’m going to feel. But I clarified with my psychologist that I tend to play my best golf when I feel like that.
It’s nothing to be scared of. I just want to enjoy the moment and enjoy the experience, being in this position and playing with the top players of the world.
One question not asked of Penge when he joins McIlroy is if he could next April play a practice around alongside the present Augusta National champion after having earned his maiden Masters debut in capturing the recent Spanish Open.
Though I guess that could also a question fellow Northern Irishmand and also fellow Holywood Club member Tom McKibbin may also have on his mind when he catches up with McIlroy this week.
