Tranlate this title Marco Penge says missing Ryder Cup was best thing for his career in spanish

Marco Penge entered 2026 with a lot of expectations after the season he produced in Europe, where his results helped him earn a PGA Tour card and put his name into the discussion for a place in Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team.

The Englishman did not get that call for Bethpage Black, although he was one of the players trying to make a late push before Donald completed his 12-man team. Missing such a big event was disappointing, especially for a player who has openly said that representing Europe is one of his main goals.

Things have not gone exactly as planned since then. Penge’s first full PGA Tour season has included health problems and time away from competition, while he is now trying to find the level that helped him win three times on the DP World Tour in 2025.

Looking back almost one year later, the 28-year-old sees his absence differently. Europe won 15-13 at Bethpage Black, and Penge believes Donald made the right decision not to take him to New York.

Penge on missing the Ryder Cup

Speaking before the British Masters, Penge admitted that experience probably worked against him when Donald was deciding on his final team.

“I got a little bit of what it’s like last year, one of the men that was kind of chasing to make a push late into the team, and I kind of feel like I did as well as I possibly could, but maybe experience was against me, which I totally understand why I wasn’t. And obviously Luke made the correct decision with the way the team performed.”

The European side led 11.5-4.5 before the Sunday singles. The United States made the final day much closer, but Europe eventually held on to win 15-13 and retain the trophy away from home for the first time since 2012.

Penge also watched the atmosphere around the European players, with the New York crowd making the week difficult at times for the visitors. The English golfer had not spent as much time playing in front of American crowds before that event and now feels the experience may have arrived too early.

“When I didn’t get selected, I said to my team, I probably wasn’t ready for it, anyways; and with the New York crowd and not playing much in America in front of the crowds there because they are very different to here. Yeah, probably could have come too soon. It was the right thing to happen. I think it’s the best thing that happened for my career in general.”

His 2026 season in the United States has now given him more experience of PGA Tour courses and crowds.

“I feel like I’m a better player than I was last year already. I’m playing so much in America, and I can tell when I come back to tournaments here and courses here that I can compare how I feel then to now, and I feel like I’ve come on a lot as a player. I just haven’t quite proved that yet.”

Penge wants a place in Ireland

The next Ryder Cup will be played at Adare Manor in Ireland in September 2027, and Penge has made no secret that getting into that European team is now a target pushing him forward.

Luke Donald will again captain Europe, while the qualification period has already started. Six players will qualify through the European points list and Donald will later choose another six.

For Penge, this campaign should be different because he now knows much more about what is required. He has spent a full season around PGA Tour players and believes good results will put him in the conversation again.

“Playing in a Ryder Cup, especially as a European, you can see that kind of family role together; it’s the pinnacle of European golf. I’d love to get on the Ryder Cup Team.”

Penge also said there is enough time for him to earn his place rather than thinking too much about captain’s picks this early.

“There’s loads of time to actually qualify, and good golf will do the talking at the end of the day, and that’s what I’ve got to get back to.”

Ireland should also bring a much different atmosphere compared to Bethpage Black. Penge joked that playing in front of an Irish crowd would be much nicer than what the European team experienced in New York, although he first has to give Donald a reason to select him.

His next challenge is to find consistency again after a difficult rookie year in America.