ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

November 4, 2025

Marco Penge

Yas Links

Quotes

Q. End of a long 2025. If you can give yourself a score out of ten for this year, what would it be and why?

MARCO PENGE: Probably 9 out of 10. Obviously winning three times, yeah probably nine out of 10. Would have been a 10 out of 10 if I had got picked for Bethpage.

Q. Could you quite believe where you are standing here compared to five months ago at Genesis?

MARCO PENGE: Yes and no. Obviously the rise at this time last year I was nowhere near playing here. I feel like I always had the ability to be here and position I'm in. Yeah, I mean, yes and no, I would say but I'm happy that I am here.

Q. You were saying that with a changed this year is the ability to accept failure. Can you describe that?

MARCO PENGE: Yeah, because I'm so invested in the process, and got like real belief in what I'm doing is right, if I don't play well this week and fail, it's kind of not the end of the world. It's fine. You know, what I'm doing has improved so much already this year. So I just need to continue getting better each day and that's the main focus.

Results, it's more I know myself how well I'm playing or if I'm happy. Just trying to stick to my process, really.

Q. How difficult is it sometimes to enjoy the wins, enjoy your family but also try and keep your foot down to the pedal over time to try and win events like this?

MARCO PENGE: Yeah, I think that's like the biggest one. I haven't really celebrated at all. Because like you said, I want to keep the foot down so you don't really have the time to celebrate. If you overcelebrate you could easily become complacent. I think there's a time and place to celebrate and that will be at the end of once I stop playing this year. I think over Christmastime, that will be a great time to crack open a bottle of champagne and really relive the success of this year.

But my main goal this year as the start of the year was not become complacent. So each week has been resetting goals and kind of looking ahead of what I want to succeed and how I'm going to do that.

Q. Your success this year has also meant you've played alongside some of the best players in the world. This week you're playing alongside Rory and Tyrrell first day, DJ, the Alfred Dunhill. What do you learn from playing with players like that?

MARCO PENGE: Obviously you learn so much in terms of maybe things that they do or I might not do, or you can learn from a confidence standpoint that what I'm doing is really good and the place I'm at, in a position to compete with them. I think it's kind of very different depending who you're playing with. Some guys you can pick their brains and ask tons, and some guys, you feel like you want to stay out of the way of a little bit because they are focused on their golf. I'm super excited to play with Rory and Tyrrell. I played with Tyrrell in Ireland and enjoyed that. It's going to be fun to play with Rory for the first time, and hopefully I can hold my own.

Q. I know he's a bit of an idol of yours growing up, how excited to pit your game against him?

MARCO PENGE: I'm buzzing, no matter how this week goes, it's going to be a great week. I'm going to gain so much experience and have such a great time playing with him, and hopefully he can pull some crowds out here to watch.

I love all that stuff. I love the feeling of being respected for being so good at something and trying to put on a show in a way for the people who do come out and support.

It's going to be fun going head-to-head with them guys, and obviously the rest of the field, it feels great. Whoever I play with the next four days it's going to be fun.

Q. The more wins you've had this year, the more your rise has been in the media, I guess. How well do you think you've dealt with being in the limelight more in 2025?

MARCO PENGE: Great. Some I actually enjoy in a way. Even just the last couple of days, I've really realised kind of the profile I'm building and the and fan base in a way. Last week, seeing tons of kids come up to me and wanting to have a chat and how excited they are to see me, I swear that's what it's all about for me.

That's why I'm trying to be as good as I can be. I want to be an idol and a role model to the younger guys coming through. Last week hit home for me that, wow, I'm starting to become a name in a way, and, yeah, I've enjoyed it.

Q. Tell us what you have to do well around Yas Links here?

MARCO PENGE: For someone like me, driving the ball with the distance I hit it, if I can drive the ball straight, there's going to be a ton of opportunities. I think putting is super key. The greens are big so you shouldn't miss many greens. It's going to be the guy who holes the most putts, and obviously the guy that makes the most birdies.

Yeah, I think it suits my game pretty well. But I think anyone can win around here. But definitely I think it suits the long hitter if they play well.

Q. Finally, you've obviously had an amazing 2025, three wins, you're in the Masters for next year. What are now your goals for 2026?

MARCO PENGE: Climb as high as I can in the World Rankings. I'm 29th now. The points that I have come off next year isn't many because of the cuts I've made in 30 events. If I can match this year with next year, going to be quite interesting to see how high I can get in the World Rankings. Like I always say, if I can just become better and better each year, that should take care of that stuff, and we'll see.