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Marco Penge grew up in Worthing, West Sussex, and turned pro in 2017 after a junior career that promised fireworks. He had power, attitude, and a short game that made people take notice. What came next wasn’t a straight line. He bounced through tours, fought for form, and learned the hard way what professional golf actually takes.
Then came 2025 - the year it all clicked. Two DP World Tour wins, in Hainan and Denmark, announced that Marco had properly arrived. The game finally matched the potential everyone saw years ago, and now, he looks built to stay.
It wasn’t without bumps. In late 2024, he served a short suspension for betting on golf events, a mistake he owned immediately. That time away forced him to look hard at himself, his habits, and how his brain works. The result was clarity. He returned sharper, calmer, and openly talking about the ADHD traits he’d spent years working to understand.
These days, Marco’s game looks freer. He still hits it miles, still has the same fire, but there’s perspective behind it now. He talks honestly about the mental side of golf - the pressure, the noise, the long rebuild that happens when no one’s watching.
Off the course, he lives near Manchester with his wife and son. He’s an Arsenal fan, a dog person, and a reminder that progress often looks more like persistence than perfection.
Marco's story is about the power of understanding your wiring. Getting an ADHD and ADD profile gave him something he'd never had before: a map. Suddenly things made sense. Why verbal instructions slip through his brain like water through a sieve. Why time gets fuzzy and focus swings wildly between total silence and complete overdrive. Once he knew that, he could work with his brain instead of fighting it. Which sounds obvious, but is surprisingly difficult to figure out on your own when you've spent years assuming you're just bad at concentrating.
Structure became the key. When he's busy, he locks in completely. When gaps appear, the mind drifts off to visit every random thought it's ever had. So the fix is practical. Build routines, fill the spaces on purpose, keep the mind engaged. That shift turned what once felt like a weakness into something closer to an advantage. Or at least something he could work with instead of constantly battling.
His team became part of the solution. A caddie who knows when to talk and when to stay quiet. A wife and manager who spot the signs early, before things spiral. Friends he can actually be honest with about how his brain works. When the suspension hit, he told them first. The messages that came back cut the fear down to size, which is what good people do when you're honest with them about struggling.
He treats mental health like a muscle. If something helps (therapy, medication, structure) use it. Pride doesn't win you points, progress does. Which is a lesson most people learn the hard way after wasting considerable time and energy trying to tough things out alone.
The bigger lesson is about self-awareness. Know your patterns. Build around them. Keep a few steady people close. Use the tools that make things easier. Then get back to what you love doing.
If parts of Marco’s story connect with you, these might help:
ADHD Support and Information – ADHD UK offers resources, peer groups, and practical guidance for adults learning to manage ADHD.
🔗 adhduk.co.uk
Understanding ADHD and Focus – Mind’s Understanding ADHD explains how attention, energy, and emotion can fluctuate, and ways to build supportive routines.
🔗 mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/adhd
Therapy and Support Options – NHS Talking Therapies lets you self-refer for free counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy in England.
🔗 nhs.uk/talking-therapies
Medication and Treatment Guidance – NHS ADHD Services provides information about assessment, medication options, and ongoing support.
🔗 nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
Peer Connection – Andy’s Man Club runs free, in-person talking groups for men across the UK.
🔗 andysmanclub.co.uk
If You’re Struggling Right Now (24/7) –
• UK: Call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
• US: Dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org)
• Worldwide: Find verified helplines in your country at findahelpline.com
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