2026-10-06 OPEN DE ESPAÑA DE GOLF PRESENTED BY MADRID 2026. CLUB DE CAMPO VILLA DE MADRID ( SPAIN ) “Marco Penge” PHOTO: JUAN AGUADO / OPEN DE ESPAÑA
Marco Penge is back at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid with a story to tell. Just one year ago, the Englishman touched down in the Spanish capital as one of the surprise packages of the season and ended the week trophy in hand. Madrid changed his career and now he is back where it all began.
His victory at the 2025 Open de España presented by Madrid was much more than the first big title of his career. Penge defeated Daniel Brown in a thrilling playoff to put the icing on the cake of an already extraordinary season and open the doors to the PGA Tour.
His spectacular week in Madrid was well rewarded; Penge took with him an invite to play in the Masters, a dream for anyone who has ever picked up a golf club. “It was incredible, life changing”, acknowledged Penge as he looked back at his triumph and everything that followed.
Suddenly, a player who was battling to establish himself on tour, found himself competing on the biggest stage in golf. But his journey has not been easy. His first season on the PGA Tour has meant adapting to a whole new level of demands. Even so, Penge has proven that his breakthrough in Madrid was no fluke.
After a difficult start to the season, his game has started to turn a corner in recent weeks, with some sound results in strong fields. He openly admits that he is starting to play as he was when he won the Open de España: “I feel like my game is much closer to where I was last year”.
Now, the Englishman is back where it all began. He returns as the defending champion, but also as a different player; more experienced, more confident and in no doubt that he is capable of winning on the biggest stage.
Madrid is a special city for Penge. “It’s one of my favourite places”, admits the Englishman, who has never shied away from talking about what that week meant to him. It was a win that opened the doors to the Masters, the PGA Tour and a new life as a professional golfer.
A year ago, he touched down in the Spanish capital in search of an opportunity. Now he returns, but as one of the biggest draws at the tournament. The champion is back home.
