Marco Penge; An Up-And-Comer Avoiding LIV Golf

LIV Golf has had a rough existence.  Underneath all the glitz and glam of a LIV tournament exists a financier’s worst nightmare.  The league is constantly operating at a loss and is very reliant on the star power it has poached from the PGA.  Recently, the league has been attempting to recruit potential stars in an effort to enhance its name recognition in the future.  Unfortunately, the up-and-coming golfer, Marco Penge, has instead accepted a Tour Card and will be playing as soon as 2026.

Marco Penge’s PGA Preference

Looking at the lead-up to his announcement of joining the PGA, it’s not a surprise that he wouldn’t go to LIV.  In a post on Twitter, Penge has admitted that he never watched a single LIV Golf match.  His only exposure to LIV players is outside of LIV, such as watching the Ryder Cup or playing against Jon Rahm for the Spanish Open.  A tournament that Penge earlier won.  This all came out after it was revealed that LIV Golf was already eyeing two PGA winners for recruitment.  

Penge’s Fans Weigh In

The way fans have responded to Penge’s Tour Card announcement certainly feels like a warning to LIV Golf’s future.  One comment pointed out how, beyond the ones that have already joined LIV, the best players are avoiding the league like the plague.  Rory McIlroy is a well-known LIV critic.  More comments were pointing out how stifling the league is for any new and old players alike.  The league has a lot of closed doors for its players, and some star players have lost public visibility.  Two comments encapsulated the consensus.  The comment reads:

“Why would any talented player go to second-rate LIV?  Less visibility, respect, events, and opportunities to play in majors.”

With Penge avoiding LIV and going to the PGA, his fans are wishing him the best of luck.  With his recent tournament win in the bag, it will be interesting to see how he plays stateside.  He also has a spot booked in two majors for 2026, the Masters and The Open.  Things are looking bright for the English Golfer.

LIV Golf’s Image Problem Among Golfers

Sure, it’s relaxing for the players and less stressful, but that comes back to bite them when they are not prepared for playing outside of the league.  Bryson DeChambeau is one of the few exceptions to that.  Younger rookie players and up-and-coming players are seeing this and are consequently making the active choice to stay with the established leagues.  The PIF seems to be unwilling to give up on LIV Golf.  However, the rest of the golf world might make that decision for them.