| Marco Penge has won the 2025 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour. The Player of the Year Award, named after the late, great Spaniard, incorporates the former Golfer of the Year Award after the two accolades were combined in 2021 to become a single honour voted for by the DP World Tour’s members. The award was bestowed on Penge following a breakthrough season which saw the Englishman record three DP World Tour wins, move inside the top 30 on the Official World Golf Ranking and finish in second position on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World to become the leading player of the ten who secured dual membership on the PGA TOUR for the 2026 season. In just his second full season on the DP World Tour, the 27-year-old claimed his maiden victory at the Hainan Classic in April, followed by the Danish Golf Championship title in August, before triumphing in the Spanish Open in October – a victory which secured his place in both The Masters and The Open in 2026. Those wins, combined with five additional top tens, saw Penge emerge as a contender for a maiden Race to Dubai title, and marked an impressive turnaround for a player who only just retained his card for the 2025 season at the final counting event in 2024. Penge, who earned dual membership of the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour for 2026 after finishing second in the Race to Dubai rankings, said: “I feel incredibly honoured to have won this prestigious award. I had a great season last year on the DP World Tour, but to have that recognised by my fellow competitors really means a lot. I want to say a big thank you to all of them. “To go from fighting to keep my card to winning an award that carries Seve’s name in the space of a year is something I’m incredibly proud of, and I’m grateful to my team for their support – it gives me huge confidence and motivation to keep pushing for more this season.” |
| Seve’s son, Javier Ballesteros, added: “I first met Marco many years ago in southern Spain when he was playing on the mini tours. From those early days, he progressed through the HotelPlanner Tour and went on to enjoy significant success on the DP World Tour, including three victories during the 2025 season, which truly showcased his talent and determination, before earning the opportunity to compete on the PGA TOUR. That journey is a testament to his dedication and hard work, and makes him a truly deserving recipient of the Seve Ballesteros Award. “I have always admired people who commit themselves fully and succeed both in golf and in life – something my father instilled in us from a young age. My siblings and I are absolutely delighted for Marco and send him our warmest congratulations.” Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, added: “Marco enjoyed a truly impressive 2025 season, which did not escape the attention of his peers, and we congratulate him as he becomes the latest winner of the Seve Ballesteros Award. “Marco’s breakthrough DP World Tour season – highlighted by three victories but also a demonstration of consistency throughout – saw him climb from outside the top 400 in the Official World Golf Ranking into the top 30, and we look forward to seeing what he achieves next.” |