One golf star has got Rory McIlroy on his mind after he missed out on a place in Team Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black this summer.
Marco Penge has warned Rory McIlroy that his sights are set firmly on him. At present, McIlroy, 36, is the runaway leader in this year’s Race to Dubai.
Victory in the lucrative competition – which features a breath-taking first prize of £1.18million ($1.53m) – would be the final gloss of a fantastic 2025 for McIlroy. As well as playing a huge role in Team Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black, he also secured the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters.
However, Penge is desperate to rain on McIlroy’s parade, starting at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship before turning his focus to the season finale, the DP World Tour Championship. However, the world No.29 knows McIlroy will also be looking to swat him aside at the Yas Links Golf Club.
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Speaking to Golf Digest, Penge, who is McIlroy’s nearest challenger, said: “Once I didn’t qualify for the Ryder Cup, then I think I played Irish Open and I thought, now my goal is to catch Rory.
“That goal is kind of over in a way. But now that I’ve won in Spain – and got back in the mix – I’m trying to win this week or next week or just play as good as I can and see where that ends up.”
On the prospect of playing with McIlroy in the DP World Tour play-offs, he added: “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 during the play-off 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.”
Shortly after Penge was snubbed by Team Europe captain Luke Donald, he claimed he may have been selected if the competition was played somewhere in Europe, rather than New York.
When it came to his captain’s picks, Donald ensured 11 of his 12 for Bethpage Black were stars who had been a part of the victorious team in Italy in 2023. Penge took the decision in good grace – but he did put across a theory of his own.
He told Sky Sports: “I feel that if it was a home Ryder Cup, then I might have got in. But I totally understand that is going to be really tough for the boys over there with the crowds and stuff.
“So I understand why Luke wanted to take all his experienced players – and there are no hard feelings there.”
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