Golf

Englishman Marco Penge back in Spain to defend title of the tournament that 'changed my life'

October 6, 2026

Marco Penge, the English golfer whose career trajectory shifted dramatically after his 2023 Spanish Open victory, returns to Madrid this week to defend his title in a tournament that opened doors to the Masters for the first time. The win in Madrid last year—part of a standout season that included victories at the Hainan Classic and the Danish Golf Championship—helped Penge secure dual membership on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, finishing second in the Race to Dubai behind Rory McIlroy.

Despite personal challenges this year, including illness, injury, and the birth of his son who spent four weeks in intensive care, Penge has shown renewed form with three top-10 finishes and a pair of top-20 results since returning from a seven-week break. He now feels his game has regained its 2023 level, though he remains torn between the DP World Tour, where he feels more at home, and the demands of life in the U.S.

Penge will face a stacked field at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, including Justin Rose, Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry, Sergio García, Bubba Watson, and Patrick Reed, who currently leads the Race to Dubai. The absence of defending champion Jon Rahm—who won the tournament in 2018, 2019, and 2022—adds intrigue, as he awaits the birth of his fourth child in the U.S.

The event will also feature 10 players from LIV Golf, setting the stage for a competitive week on a course Penge called one of the strongest in the tournament’s history.