For a PGA Tour rookie, some moments are more surreal than others. And for Marco Penge, even while dominating at the Genesis this year, there were a few surprises in store.

“Going for lunch on Tuesday and standing in the queue behind Tiger Woods is pretty cool,” Penge told the media after his second round at the 2026 Genesis Invitational. “Just being in the presence of players that I have so much respect for, players that I've watched growing up, players I idolize.”

After three wins on the DP World Tour, Penge qualified to earn a PGA Tour Card, and as a result, he would begin the year playing events like Torrey Pines, TPC Scottsdale, Pebble Beach, and Riviera. And it's not just Tiger Woods.

Penge will be going against the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, the top two golfers in the world. And later this year, Penge will go against the best in the world at Augusta National and Quail Hollow. That's why Penge quickly refocused on golf.

"I think just I need to adapt my game a little bit for here. Hitting full wedge shots is pretty key whereas in Europe taking the spin off is really key. It's kind of one end of the spectrum to the other.”

And when he came to the Genesis, Penge was determined to show his potential. He scored 12-under 64 and tied with Jacob Bridgeman for the first position after the second round at the Genesis Invitational.

His performance showcased his confidence on the tour. His confidence on tour is directly linked to his success on the DP World Tour.

The PGA Tour Professional’s Source of Confidence Lies in DP World Tour Wins

Penge admitted, “Winning three times, finishing second in the Scottish Open against a field that's similar to the PGA TOUR, and having a good week at the PGA was pretty good for my confidence as well.”

He did prove his strength before stepping onto the 2026 PGA Tour season. But he still needs to prove himself regularly against the greats like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jacob Bridgeman. And he seems to have pinpointed the parts of his game that need improvement. 

“I'm looking forward to the process of that,” Penge went on. “And regardless of how this year goes, this is a year that I'll never forget and can always say that I played on the PGA TOUR.”

But can this confidence bring him a win at the 2026 Genesis Invitational? 

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar