Marco Penge: From Rock Bottom to Multiple Tour Winner

Filmed ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, Marco Penge joins George Harper Jr. and John E. Morgan for a powerful episode of Life on Tour, presented by Buffalo Trace.

From dominating the amateur ranks to battling the pressures of turning pro, Marco opens up about the pivotal moments that tested his resilience — including the controversy he faced earlier this season. Now a multiple DP World Tour winner, he shares the mindset behind his rise, how he continues to push for improvement, and his big ambitions for the future.

Chapters:
01:10 Introduction
02:40 Early days
05:00 Struggles at the start of pro career
12:10 Climbing the ladder
18:31 Suspension
21:00 Blueprint for getting better
28:00 Meeting Rory and learning from the best
37:00 Family
42:30 Future goals

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Smilers [Music] in the house. See you, mate. You all good. Tell you what, they can’t tell us apart just looking at us. Under age, are you? Nah. Let’s do it. Cheers, Johnny. Thank you, mate. What’s up, man? Oh, is that a little prayer with it? I don’t. That’s nice, isn’t it? You can talk about anything you want. Fantastic. You can ask anything. Honestly, I have no idea. It’s like it’s like no seriously. [Music] See Scotty Sheffller making eight birdies around. I’m like how had a bet on golf all my life. I’ve come out the shower and I’m like him crying. Mrs. is cuddling me. I’m just like oh my god what have I done? What have I done? You kind of so in the moment you’re like right this is to keep my car. Having a locker room with Rory and Tommy and all the boys. Hey lads. Like no I am. Yeah. Pleasure Gilmore walking in. Marco Pen. [Music] All right. Well, gentlemen, first and foremost, Marco Pen, great to have you here in the hot seat. Um, Life on Tour podcast courtesy of Buffalo Trace. Uh, had a little sip to warm us up and we’re feeling pretty good. Yeah. Um, but it’s great to be back here at Wentworth um for a big time of the year. Wow, what a year you’ve had, mate. How you feeling? You must be enjoying yourself. Obviously, this year’s been unbelievable. Um, obviously wasn’t the start of the year that I wanted, but yeah, you know, that’s that’s in the past now and uh couldn’t be couldn’t be more happy than what I am now. Nice. Got Johnny Morgan joining us once again. Johnny, how are you, mate? Welcome back to the pod, man. I’m loving this, especially along with Marco Penge. I mean, I’ve known this boy probably, I would say, how would you say, Marco, about six, seven, eight years now? More. Maybe eight. Probably more. Eight is it? Oh my god. Well, that’s why I got so many gray hairs and I’m going bold. But it’s amazing actually to see the rise, a little bit of the fall and then back with the mega rise that he’s had now because literally I just been like a kid in a candy store just loving every movement he’s making cuz over the years I’ve seen the talent this boy has held in his grass, right? Just waiting to show the world what he’s got and then he’s just gone pow and everyone’s just gone wow. Get it in you. Woohoo. It has been awesome to watch, mate. like um it’s been a serious year, but I guess we should probably go back to where it all started. Yeah. Um can you talk us through like where you’re from and and where your upbringing was because it’s it’s been amazing as Morg said, it’s been amazing to follow the fact that you left school early and stuff like that. So, yeah. Can you give us a little rundown? Yeah. So, um started playing golf when I was six. It was my dad’s 40th birthday and same age. Yeah. And uh mom bought dad a set of clubs. dad bought me a set and that’s kind of how I started really. Um was a massive keen footballer as a kid. Still am as a massive massive fan of football. Um you know kind of started playing seriously at about 9 10 going to you know US kids in America playing all that stuff and then you know dad said that you got a decision to make when I was 12 13 whether I wanted to play football or golf. Wow. And at the time I was playing at Southampton Academy and yeah he he obviously decided for me that golf was going to be the way. Um and then you know just loved it ever since I started it. Um you know my dad was pretty tough on me as a kid. Um your dad Italian? Yeah. Yeah. Italians. Yeah. Good strong attitude. Yeah. Am I right? Am I right in thinking that you supported Italy football over England football at a World Cup? Are we allowed to say that on the tight load? He’s a couple50. I just say 50/50. Keep everyone happy. But um yeah, just loved golf really from the start and uh you know left school when I was in year 10, which is a year early than kind of finish. Um the school was so supportive to me. You know, they could see that I had a lot of talent and that they understood that I wanted to chuck all my eggs in one basket. And um yeah, what was it like making a decision like that as a 15year-old, right? Cuz like obviously you’re still young and yeah, you know, not necessarily settled yourself. Did you know how important that decision was or was it probably not you know I still remember my mom saying like I said to my mom like I don’t want to go to school today like I just want to I just want to play golf. I don’t want to go to school. and she obviously expressed that to the school and they kind of were fully behind me. So they made the decision pretty easy in a way. Wow. Okay. So kind of having that support in a way was kind of like okay well maybe making the right decision here and uh yeah and then you know left school played amate golf for England golf for a long time till I was about 18 and then um just missed out on Walker Cup um and then had a terrible year just lost it completely. uh had a mental block off the tea. Um had five months out the game then turned pro during that period kind of to get away from everyone if you know what I mean. I felt wow that’s I felt like because I was such a successful amateur and junior I had a lot of eyes on me and then the fail I had never dealt with failure before and then all of a sudden I was failing and I could see that everyone was kind of like god what’s going on? Yeah. Right. So I just decided to turn pro. Yeah. That’s not how normal people turn pro, is it? No. You’re normally going like this. Literally. What’s it like in your soul when you’re going through that kind of era when you’re nothing’s right? Nothing’s right. Could you see past clouds? Could you What was the feeling like went to bed and woke up in the morning? You know, I was I remember playing at Q school um before I turned pro. I was kind of going to Q school and if I get a card somewhere turn pro and I was at first stage up in Scotland and or Newcastle I think it’s called Roxra and I was about 17 over through 15. That’s not and my mom was there with me and I was like almost breaking down in tears like I’m trying my best mom I just don’t know what’s going on. Sure. And I was like I don’t want I want to go home. I want to leave. So I withdrew and said it was an injury at the time. Um and it’s just amazing to look back if you know what I mean. It’s uh but that feeling you get you know you stand in there and all you’re seeing is just trouble and you do not enjoyable instead of seeing the start line if true. I was the same. But it’s it’s amazing when you come out you come out stronger. Yeah. But it’s if you can get past those massive hurdles that you’re trying to overcome between your ears. And I think every sportsman, not only sportsman, but people in general in life, yeah, going to have bumps in the road like that. And it makes you stronger without a doubt. It’s just being able to get through that, have the right support. Um, you know, I started going to see all sorts of psychologists in sport, outside of sport, you know, people that struggle with mental health. I started seeing people like that and I just felt no one could help me at the time, like nothing was working. Wow. And then uh you know five months later we get to Europro Q school uh up at Manning Heath in about March maybe and you know I started feeling a little better with my game. Went out to play a practice round on like two days before the tournament started and started hitting shots again that I’m like nah this is like I’ve still got this there still scar tissue. I’m like, so I decided to play 36 holes. 36 holes just keep going just to try and get out of it. Played shot seven under first round. Things great. Get in there. Um started the second round pretty ropey and luckily there was a rain delay. Signs were coming back again. You know, while everyone was sat in the clubhouse, I went up to the range and bashed 200 balls to try and find a fill. Wow. And then, you know, we started again and I think I shot maybe two, three under par and got through to second stage, final stage and went to final stage and got my Europo card and um played on the Euro Pro. You know, that’s where I met Johnny back in the day. Played on the Euro Pro for a couple of years and still had tons of scar tissue, but you know, managed to get off the tour onto the to the challenge tour, the Hotel Planet Tour. So, yeah. Yeah. Just like that’s incredible. Like do you think like going through that hardship at a young age is almost not easier but better for you because a lot of professional sportsmen and or a lot of people now go through it around our age where we’re at now once you’re all settled. I think like obviously yeah I think the sooner you go through that the better because you kind of obviously learn from the experience but um you know you see it in every athlete every sportsman even the best they have a spell where they’ve just like who is this this isn’t the person we know. Yeah. Um and that that’s just what that was my time. Um and everyone’s time is different. It’s going to happens to everyone. when you were trying to find yourself out when you said like the third tier which was your pro then do you think having the rivalry you had with one of our own you know Richard Manel you know because you and him were just tit for tat who was going to win a tournament I mean I remember went for Richard didn’t I and Kit Al went for went for you who’s going to win the order and you finished first and second didn’t you so did that help you as well having someone to strive and try and fight against you know because you had all you know when you go back to rivalries over the years I mean there’s always rivalries and pick them out. 100%. I think like defin when I look back definitely cuz like even over the last few years you kind of pick a name out who’s almost like your rival in a way. Yeah. Like if I can beat him I’m going to be doing all right. Yeah. And like you know I’ve had that a bit this year at times where I’m like if I can go there and beat him. Who’s who’s your rival this year? Well, like pick the bigger, you know, people like Christopher Wright and you know, the lads I grew up with who I was rivals with when I was younger and you know, just lads who were playing really well. You know, Martin Coover has had his spells this year where he’s been great. You know, it’s kind of like, you know, if I can beat that guy this week, yeah, be there or thereabouts. And exactly, you know, the Hoy guards were the ones in Denmark for me that if I can go there and beat them. And yeah, I was obviously trying to make a push for the Ryder Cup at the time and I wasn’t meant to play in Denmark and I thought, you know what, let’s just give everything, see what happens. Let’s go and play every event. And, you know, said to my team, look, if we can go to Denmark and try and beat the the Twins, like it’s going to be a good week and it’s a good statement to have. And uh funny enough I you know was neck and neck with Raasmus on Saturday and Sunday and luckily pipped him to the line in the end. So yeah I think it’s just that resetting of goals I suppose in a in a way. It’s kind of is like a goal. Um if I can beat that guy. So yeah it’s cool. You didn’t try and drink out of that jug did you? Bit of a big jug there. It is a big one. There’s a huge trophy. You didn’t fill that bad boy up. No you could do it with this stuff. I mean cracky but it’s amazing. Happy. But like before we do get back to that victory and I guess your two victories this year which has obviously been amazing. I love the fact that you’ve you’ve genuinely run a path which is how golf is almost meant to be done. You know the Europro Tour, the Hotel Planet Tour which you won twice and then you won the whole thing. You won the race to Morca and then you’ve got on like you’ve gone from that level. like how awesome or how proud are you are you for taking those steps and taking your time with it and ticking each box as you go? Yeah, I think looking back it’s um been great great for my development as a player, as a person. Um, you know, times have been tough along there, but definitely, you know, working your way up, it’s like a normal job. You’re kind of working your way up and Yeah, true. Sometimes in sport, you know, you get these young guys who are superstars from the off and they just go bang. Yeah. Whereas I think nowadays it’s very uncommon for that. So yeah, I’m proud that I went through each step of of you know, the mountain in a way and um it’s taught me a lot along along the way and yeah, you know, I’m I couldn’t be happier sitting here right now with what I’ve achieved so far and uh hopefully can go from strength to strength. Well, and sitting here with us obviously. Of course. Of course. Um but like water, you got to talk the talk. That’s what he’s doing right now. Good boy. Exactly. One of my absolute favorite highlights was the up and down you made to keep your tour card last year. For those at home that might have missed it, it’s it’s quite funny like at that time of year there’s so many story lines, right? And your one was one that caught the eye of a lot of us. Long story short, you had to make an up and down to get your card. Incredible stuff. Firstly, let’s talk about the up and down. Yeah. Um tricky little one from the thick rough, shortsided a little, but just not hugely difficult, but just annoying enough when you’re playing for your career. Yeah, it was um I mean the hour and a half before that back, you know, I was comfortable going into the back n. Yeah. And then all of a sudden I was like, “Oh my god, I was so nervous.” And you know, I hit a driver out of bounds on 14 that was so far right and I’m just like, “Oh my god, how am I going to do this?” this and then you get on the 18th hole there and it’s like a dog leg round the side of a lake and I I remember on the t-shirt I’m like just commit to it. Just commit to it. Like there’s no backing out of it now. You got to make four. Like you can’t guide this down there. You’ve just got to stand up and hit a shot. Yeah. Great drive. Good T shot through the second shot through the green which is where I was trying to hit it. And you get up there and it’s I’m like it was actually on the fairway but it was into grain. Ah yeah. It’s kind of like oh no. Like I said to my caddy like do you think we putt this or do we just play the right shot and he’s like look mate I think it’s the chips a shot like if you put this it’s going to be hard to judge how fast it’s going to come out go through the grass etc. And I actually played a really good chip shot to 5t and um yeah I mean it’s just you just like a massive blur I think. Yeah, it’s just a blur that you kind of so in the moment you’re like right this is to keep my card and it’s crazy how it all comes down like keeping your card comes down to one moment like that when you play all season long. Yeah, it was um yeah, amazing amazing uh for me as a person. Uh I proved a lot to myself in that moment to get over the line and you know going through some stuff off the course at the time and um yeah I just proved to myself that you can do it under the most pressure situation and I think it’s yeah I think it’s so cool because you sit here today you’re second on the race to Dubai. You’ve won twice you were knocking on the door of the RDER Cup. Yeah but this might not have been an option if you’d not made up and down part. Yeah, like it’s crazy when you look back at that. Yeah, it’s mental and it just shows you in, you know, sport life, especially golf, like just one moment. Just always waiting for that one moment to kickstart something. And that was my moment really. And uh I mean, like you said, this year wouldn’t have happened if I’d hold that part. You you say like you go through the levels and what I want to say is like you’ve gone and witnessed the lowest of the low you know coming through a real baron spell in the brain where you just can’t see anything through the trees at all to clarity all of a sudden out there fighting for your car come back now second in Dubai race to Dubai going crazy winning tournaments here there and everywhere nearly getting pit for the Ryder Cup how have you gone like this because I know there’s always steps I felt it as well when I played you know, when the levels start to rise and then all of a sudden you can’t see anything below anymore. You can’t see anything lower. It’s always higher. Yeah. You know what I mean? How’s that felt for you? And how did you feel when you got there? I think um you know the start of that was obviously keeping my card last year. Yeah. Then obviously, you know, getting suspended for 3 months. Yeah. was um it was actually a relief in the end once everything had come out and was clear and in the air um because I played for six months with that inside not no one knowing and me not knowing what the outcome was going to be like that is like the hardest time for me. Yeah. Um not being able to openly discuss with my closest friends about what was going on. um you know told my caddy and that was it because I felt like he needed to know because I was feeling so anxious about it and um behind a good man though is always a good woman. Exactly. Well, exactly. You know, my family have been great. My wife’s awesome. And and I think that was the start of something. It gave me three months to reflect on right what what needs to be better, what, you know, what parts are good, what parts need to be tons better, and kind of changed my team around a little bit and got, you know, got a new coach who was part of the team in my short game area already and just made a massive plan. Literally sat down for three hours with a whiteboard, wrote what was good, what was rubbish, right? Who do we need to be more like in certain areas? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What do they do that I don’t do? How can we be become more consistent? And just made every day structured. Had consistency in my practice and you know came back saw the signs straight away that this is working. Yeah. I felt great and I just was clear in my mind. I knew what I was what I’m doing. And still to this day, it’s the same plan. It’s the same blueprint. We’ve added some bits in there and took a few bits away and just always trying to develop the plan. Nice. And uh just keeps me at ease. So for those listening when you say you had time off, what exactly happened there? Because yeah, like it was obviously a new story for some, but can you give us a breakdown of what actually happened and how that was for you? So, you know, um, April time last year was in Dubai doing a training week and, uh, I was in the shower, actually, wife comes running in. She’s got my email on her phone because she helps me out with some stuff. And she comes in and says, “Oh, you know, the tour, we’ve have said that there’s a betting investigation, like you’ve had a bet on the golf.” And I was obviously like, “Oh, oh, like what’s this for 10 grand? What we doing?” You know, it was two and a half grand over three years. And how much was your bet for? I ended up winning overall £150. And uh you know, I’ve come out the shower and I’m like I’m crying. I’m crying. Mrs. cuddling me. I’m just like, “Oh my god, what have I done? What have I done?” Yeah. Obviously had a me had an invest an interview the next day. See all the bets I’ve had and I’m kind of like I’ve had a bet on golf all my life. I love watching golf when I can cheer a couple of players on and uh that was all it was. It was purely entertainment. Don’t watch the Grand National without having to bet on a horse. You have a bet on a horse and cheer your horse on or you don’t bother watching it. And that’s all it was. Um, and uh, yeah, went through the process of all of that and anxiety was through the roof and felt like I was let loads of people down and what was everyone going to think when I come back or when it gets announced? Yeah. And then it got announced and all of a sudden I felt amazing. Better. Yeah. It’s like laid off the shoulder. The support I got was like more than you ever thought, you know. Another good life lesson. Yeah. You know, look, I didn’t understand the rules fully. I thought you I I never had a bet on myself. Never had a bet on a tournament that I played in. Just didn’t realize you couldn’t have a bet in golf. And yeah, and yeah, lesson learned. Broke the rules. Um, everyone has their opinion on it, which is fine, but at the end of the day, I broke the rules and I held my hands up and I said, “Look, I’ve had a bet on golf. Here’s all my betting accounts.” Yeah. Yeah. Nice. just didn’t realize doing anything wrong and I’m sorry. I’m a bit of a visual learner. No surprises to anyone there. We probably all are. The three of us combined. Like can you talk us through like how you picture this out because you’ve got your your tournaments here, your practice here. It’s like quite a cool way to break down a golfing calendar, right? You know, I kind of saw what Justin Rose does or did. I’m sure he still does, you know, his plan for a week, how that looked. Um, and kind of was like, well, you know, Justin Rose Rose is a pretty good model to pretty solid person to base yourself, man. And that’s what I did. Yeah. So, you know, every week now I have a weekly schedule that I do at the start of the week in terms of practice timings, gym workouts, rest, podcasts, podcast, rest time, family time. Yeah. Literally, every day is just structured. when I’m gonna be a dad, when I’m gonna switch switch off from being a dad and focus on my job to pay the bills, etc. And uh it’s just proper structure really. Yeah. You said routine, it’s just that and you know I routine for me is great. You know, I’ve I have ADHD which I found out during last year and you know time is not I’m useless with time. I forget everything. Well, it’s funny you say that. I did ask your darling wife Sophie about what what are some of his traits? What annoys you and he’s always forgetting something. Always forgets something. I’m terrible. Honestly, I’m terrible. As far as I was here on time, you’re lucky. Yeah. You were early. Yeah. But um you know, routine for me is keeps your mind at ease. Yeah. Um when you have ADHD, you overthink. And uh if I can have structure, that stop me from overthinking. And yeah, I’d say that’s actually the hardest thing for me as a in my workplace is the mental side and doing how my mind is built. Know when to switch off. Yeah. Move over and do something else. Yeah. I really struggle to switch off. It’s always like need to get better, need to get better, need to do this, need to do that. Is that in terms of your home life versus golf? Like you when you get home, your golf brain’s still going. Still going. Yeah. Yeah. What about when you’re on the golf course? That’s that’s the one time I feel at ease cuz like I don’t have outside noise. I don’t have Yeah. You know, I’m not thinking about where’s my wife, is is she okay? Is is my coach? Where’s he blah blah blah? Is he on the range? I’m always thinking about everyone else. Yeah. Yeah. We were talking about that the other week. Hey, like not letting people help you as much. You need to learn to let your team help you so you can think less, right? And we did that. We My team said to me, “You got to start forget worrying about stop worrying about us.” Like when we’re here with you, we’re fine. Yeah. Okay. You don’t need to think like like I’d think say my my physio’s called Mike, I’d be thinking, “Oh, as he got into the into the players lounge, all right, to have lunch.” Like I’d be thinking about stuff like that while I’m pegging it up on the first tea. Right. Yeah. Good. But it’s how my mind is built. really nice. Yeah, really nice. He says that. I mean, you’re gonna have a lot of fans just by saying that. So, we’re at the PGA and um my coach was like, “I’ll go and get the balls for for short game.” I’m like, “No, no, no. I’ll do that.” And he’s like, “We’ve just had this chat that you’re going to stop you’re going to start letting us help.” I’m like, “Okay, okay. Like, can you go and get some bullshit?” And it’s like, “Do you mind carrying my trap man for me?” Like, yeah. started to let people in, open up a little bit and let people help me rather than me thinking about like is everyone all right? Yeah. Didn’t want to put anyone out. No. Oh, but that’s a lovely trait. But also, you got to focus on you like you say and they’re trying to help you. They’re trying to make my life easier. Yeah. That’s lovely, man. If going to get the balls from me to it on the range, like it’s going to make my life easier. Then ask me to do it and they do it. Mate, you’re a tour program, mate. Living the dream. I want to I don’t I don’t ever want to come across. No. No, like I know I want to be grounded and humble all my life. So, for sure. Great. It’s trying to find that balance. The reason I play the game is I love to do things that, you know, when you have an opportunity where you’re like, “This could be cool.” Yeah. Yeah. If I pull this off, this is going to be wicked. You So that’s why it’s more them feelings, you know? Like last week I had one at at the K Club on 16. I’m kind of like 270 out into the wind. Such a narrow green. Pins on the on the left hand side. You’re kind of having to draw it. You can’t miss it left. You got to face the water and draw it off it. Lauran did a good job. Yeah, he did. What a shot. And I thought like let’s do it. Like I’ve got the shot. Yeah. And unfortunately it landed on the edge of the green went in the water. But I’d rather fail that way. Yeah. Than fail. Lay up and three. Hell yeah. I think it makes you better as well. Well, I think you learn more, you I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place, and I’m sure you’re going to have plenty of them where you’re going to go, it’s not a time and a place to do this now, you know, but there is a time and a place that you got to do it. You got to lay down the gauntlet and throw the roll the dice. You have to do it. But that’s how you learn it, what you see. And I play, you know, over the last few months when I’ve started to play with higher ranked players in the world, like I did at the Scottish Open and the Open, playing with Cam Smith, etc., you know, I’ve learned loads from them, you know, they’re not shying away, you know. Yeah. I I think when I played at the open the pins were pretty tucked and I’m like you know play at 15 feet right of it here blah blah blah made about five birdies and miss a cut by one or two and you see Scotty Sheffller making eight birdies around I’m like how he must be just going at the flag taking it on. Yeah. So it’s like sometimes you’ve just got to go you know what if I short side myself then I got to rely on my short game and get up and down but that’s the way you’re going to win golf tournaments. Well, you mentioned a great name there. Scotty Sheffller, world number one. Now, I see a trait in you. I got to say it. It’s very much Scotty Shefflleresque, and that’s your mindset. And that’s on the golf course. I watch you time and time again. You might play a poor shot. Yeah. You might, you know, and it might be out of position, and it’s easy to throw your toys out the pram a little bit, but you take it on the chin. You you wear it strong on your shoulders and walk on. Yeah. And that’s who I base myself off really. Hey, he’s my he’s kind of not idol kind of idol, but I look at his mindset and I think I need a bit of that. Yeah, I need a bit of that. Need a bit of this. I need a bit of that. Like you said, yeah, all sorts of stuff. You’re talking some good names, mate. You’re talking some good names. But, you know, the standard I love watching the best. You know, I’d happily stand there, go on the range, and just watch. You mention all these great names. Have you ever played with the likes of Royal Shiffley yet? No, I haven’t. And uh see that’s crazy. You’re sitting second on the road to Dubai. I guess that’s probably why you definitely know who you are now, Marco. That’s I um I actually had dinner near Rory last week. Uh and it was strange cuz I saw him and his family sitting in the corner and his dad and stuff. And I was like I was going for dinner on my own and there was two single tables to like the left of him only left. And I’m like, “Oh god, I don’t want to disturb him or feel like he thinks I’m stalking him or anything, but I was like, I’ve got no choice to go and sit there.” Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, “Okay, well, let’s just go and do it.” Sat down and his dad kind of saw me straight away and introduced himself to me and said, “Congratulations.” lovely guy ordered a Guinness uh actually ordered a Guinness and it come over and then Rory spotted me having a Guinness and he’s like shouted my name and he’s kind of like go on sort of go on son sort of I was like I’m mate I’m trying to make the most of being in Ireland here and then we just had a started having a conversation for about half an hour which was awesome and uh I said to him look I’d love to have a practice round with you at some point and um feel like I could learn tons off you and he was so nice about it and said 100%. So hopefully I can do that with him sometime soon and uh Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it’s a lot of guys that idolize out here and uh he’s definitely one of them. Yeah. He’s lovely guy. Seriously warm and welcoming. Top notch, mate. Jerry’s a good dad. And then I went down the next night and I was sat next to dad again with surprised he didn’t swap tables enjoying yours. Yeah, it was great. And uh that’s what I love. I love that’s what I love being out here, you know, getting to know everyone and just bonding and feel like a family. And like like you said, mate, I mean, it’s a close close call to getting the old phone call from Luke Donald. Yeah. I mean, when you look at Beth Paige Black, right, that golf course there, I mean, did you look at it and think, I got a chance here because that golf course really suits me. I reckon it’s going to suit me and I can really get that ball miles up the fairway and give my partner a little wedge in. It’s a bit of a miracle to get in the RDER Cup, but I went to Denmark and won. I thought, okay, like I need to back these up now. Fish on here. Yeah. You know, finished sixth and eighth in the next two and I thought you never know, man. That to me going Thank you. Yeah. And I kind of knew all my stats when I played at the PGA being number one T to green and my stats on the tour off the tea. I was kind of like, you know, someone said to me that I’m the best driver of the ball this year. So I was kind of thinking, you know, I’ve got the stats on my side here. Yeah. It’s just whether they want to take a punt on me. And that’s it. It it’s almost that you’d almost rather it a year later or like you’re at that awkward awkward time where it’s like you’re correct me if I’m wrong. You’re probably not surprised you’ve missed out, but you’re also like I’m putting a good case for you. Well, that that’s how I felt. I thought I’ve done everything I can. But like if I get picked, I’m not going to believe it. I’m going to be like, nah, this this ain’t right. Like this. Imagine going to Ryder Cup chair having a locker room with Rory and Tommy and all the boys. It’ be like New York. Hey lads. Like no, I am. Yeah. Michael Gilmore walking in you. Yeah. Well, like when do you get to that point? Because I guess like we all work in sport and you know, we’re all hanging around these somewhat celebrities or whatever, but when do you go from being like a fanboy, really good golfer to being like, “Oh, yeah. Work colleagues now.” Like, because I don’t think I’ll ever I think I’ll just be a fanboy all my life. Yeah, why not? Like, oh yeah. It’s just hard to believe if you know what I mean. kind of like, you know, I think I’m down to 58th in the world now. And I’m kind of like, this is just doesn’t sound not it doesn’t sound right, but it’s just like disbelief. I’m like, what the hell? We’re going to have to change that whiteboard a little bit. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, yeah, it’s great to be that close to the RDER Cup and, you know, it’s great to have a little scroll down social media and see some comments of people saying how they’d love to have pic they want they would have picked me, etc. And yeah, it’s just just uh feel really appreciated and it’s mega. And I guess now that you’re like right, I’ve got really close now on the whiteboard. This is a realistic option for for Ireland in two years time. Definitely. Definitely. That’s the goal now. And um you know, I’ll obviously be playing in America next year, which would be cool and new experience again. And uh but I’ve got so much to learn still. I’m still Yeah. You know, at the start of the year, I said to Alex, my coach, and my team, I said, “Look, I’m nowhere near my potential. I’m 10% there.” Great. And then, you know, now I kind of look at myself and think, okay, prove to myself quite a lot. Probably say I’m 55 60% there to my potential and still got tons to learn still. So, you know, playing with the, you know, like the likes of Rory and Scotty and being in their environment and watching them, see what they do, etc. just hopefully help. And, uh, yeah. Well, we kind of, we’ve had so much to talk about. We’ve kind of glossed over the fact that you’ve won twice on tour this year. Yeah. Like, how special was that breakthrough? How special is that feeling to to add to those percentages you were just talking about to fill you with so much confidence? Like that winning feeling? What’s it like? I mean, you know, I haven’t even, you know, I haven’t celebrated or anything to be honest. It’s been uh, you know, I think in golf it’s depends on who you are as a person and what your aspirations are. And after I won, it’s like buzzing. I’m buzzing. I’ve won. I’ve got another, you know, I’m now up to two on the European tour DP World Tour website. It’s two wins. Like, it’s pretty cool. But it’s kind of that’s what I’m that’s my goals. That’s what I’m not expecting myself. But yeah, I believe in myself. So I’m playing to win. That’s if I don’t win, you know, not not that I’m not happy, but it’s like I’ve not achieved what I wanted to achieve. Yeah. True. And then when I do did win, I was kind of said to my C, I’m like that’s that’s the standard. That’s how we do it. That’s what we do. Yeah. That’s how we need to be. Like today was awesome. The process was great. Me and him, communication, teamwork with the team. This is the This is a marker. Yeah. Nice. This is what I expect of myself, of us as a team. Like, let’s keep doing this, if you know what I mean. That’s epic. So, I’ve not really like I kind of And then it’s like, right, how do I back that up? How do I go and have a good week the next week? I need to get over that and move on now because I’ve made the mistake in the past of being all stareyed and wow wow wow. It’s like I need to put that behind me and move on and go again. And uh that’s how I want my mindset to be and how I try to be. It’s um just want to keep going, keep trying to win more. Um set my just set my marker high really and it’s what that’s what I expect of myself. So if when I did win it was like this that’s this what I expect. So have you had any just great after matches where you’re you know whether you’re at the amateur days or young days you’re like mate we’ve let in the hair down here we’ve made a few mistakes we’ve had a bit of fun. Yeah we’ve had we’ve had some good times. Um you know me Baldwin uh Sull Andy Sullivan Paul Wear and Alex Evans had a couple of okay nights out last year which is pretty cool. Nightclubs glow sticks all that jazz. Yeah. Yeah. All that stuff. Sweet. Well, actually, it’s funny like Paul Wearing came on the podcast and won that week. Yeah. And they had a they had a big night. Yeah. I missed that unfortunately, but I’ve had Yeah, I mean I’ve had some good times to remember and uh yeah, plenty plenty back in the day as an amateur, you know, sneaking out England golf, sneaking out for a cheeky couple of beers with the boys. Brilliant. You know, those were the days. The amateur days are almost the best for that sort of stuff. You feel so rebellious. Those were the days. Yeah. But um yeah, hopefully can have a big one at the end of this year. Oh, that would be good. That’s the plan. How’s things off the course? We’ve talked a lot about golf, but not only is your trophy cabinet getting fuller, so is your house. Another kid on the way. How exciting is that? Got another bun in the oven. Yeah. Whoa. Fair play, man. Home run. That’s it. Home run. How many are you going to have? Well, up to going to be up to two now. I don’t know. Yeah, but you’re going to keep going. Well, see if they can keep making it, mate. Can you give him a break? He’s just mentally handling the fact he’s got he’s got twofer. We’ll have to see. Oh, fair. Well done, girl. Yeah. No, she she’s doing well. Bless her and can’t wait, you know, the first one, little Enzo’s top boy and looking forward to the second and uh yeah, you know, couldn’t thank the wife enough to be honest. I love that name, Enzo as well, by the way. Just real cool fan of that. Good. But let’s talk about um your baby mama as well, Sophie Lamb. Now, Ping, she’s a good golfer in her right as well, Curtis Kappa. Like, how did you guys obviously you met through golf, I assume. I’ve got I’ve got no nothing to base that on apart from that you’re both golfers, but how cool is that journey being with her as well? Yeah, I mean, you know, um we we met well, we first met when we were 14 and started dating, as you could say, when we were about six, 15, 16, which like sending emails and SMS sort of stuff, you know, childhood sweetheart. Um so, you know, I’ve been with her for over 10 years now and yeah, I can’t really remember life without her. It’s um she’s so supportive. I couldn’t ask honestly couldn’t ask for anyone better. And uh you know I’ve definitely you know my success is big. She’s played a massive part in that and uh she’s just so supportive whatever you know like the betting thing for example. Yeah. She’s there. She’s there for me. She’s got my back through thick and thin and um obviously doing a great job being a mom. You know it can’t be hard for her with me being away 30 35 weeks a year. It’s um totally understand the stress that she has to go through and uh kind of live two different lives in a way and um yeah but her and her family and my family are awesome and uh yeah I couldn’t thank her enough. Well, it takes one to know one doesn’t it? That’s the thing. You got one golfer, you both golfers know one another. How’s her golf game? I mean she ain’t picked up a club for three years now. Three years. She taught any little pearlers of wisdom, mate. You know where was she good at and where were you poor at? Where did she kick your butt? And you know, you lost a couple of It was short game. Short game joke. Yeah. Was it steady Eddie? Yeah. Wasn’t the best part of life. But I seen you steady Eddie. All right. I’ve seen you working hard though on your wedge game. Your wedge game’s pretty hot to try. I’ve been seeing you actually on the range and this is good point as to I it it’s like watching Dustin Johnson going through his transition when he got the world number one, won the Masters. I don’t know if you want to agree with me on this, but he was a big hitter, bullseye hitter as well, going for a lot of shots, but he needed to sort the short game. You know, that 120 yards in. Is that something you’ve been focusing on? Massively. The big ones taking trying to take the spin off. So, going like 80 yarders, just bring the flight down. You know, like last week the greens were soft. I was n from 120. See, I love that. N from 170. I hit 9 170 and I trying to hit it from 120. Yeah. Sometimes on TV I could hit one and not get it right and it looked terrible. Yeah. But the high tariff difficulty shot that I’m actually trying to play. Yeah. It’s crazy. That’s cool. Yeah. But that part of my game has been the massive improvement. Is that like windows as you’re looking through you you’re seeing like certain windows you’re going to hit it through. So all of a sudden it used to be up here floaty and spinny and out of control. Now it’s down and and you know the control of the spin is so vital in it. rhythm slow, you know, cuz I can hit it. My speed’s pretty crazy. So, I struggle to swing short, if you know what I mean. Yeah. Even just taking the club back, it’s like, well, I’m here already, if you know what I mean. Yeah. So, like I’ve had to learn to swing a little shorter, also take speed out by just rhythm, slowing my rhythm down. Big M. It’s improved hugely and uh something we put serious hard work in. But, you know, I had to make some changes technically for that to improve. The club face used to get too strong on the way back. Yeah. Which then made it even harder to, you know, the balls always come out hot. Also, where it was too strong and didn’t have time to steep steep and then you’re spinny if you like it or not. Yeah. Yeah. So, now I’ve got more loft in the back swing. I’ve started to swing in a lot better a lot better place and I can then hit all the shots from there. So still it can be better obviously but it’s improved cuz for a lot of amateur golfers at home they’ll be like I love seeing the ball spinning and it’s it’s the coolest thing. It’s a time and a place aren at the front of the green, loads of work behind it. You now get obsessed with it just going one bounce stop. You want to do that every time. Great. So much control over it, right? Like if I got a club and I think this is could spin too much. Then it’s like, well, that’s wrong then. I’ve just answered the question. Who’s great at that at the moment? Scotty. Scotty. Yeah. Number one in the world. If you can get it just one bounce stop. Yeah. Then you money trophies. Yeah. Have you got triggers on the on the way back? Is there positions? Yeah. So I’ve got like 9:00, 9:30, 10, but when it gets real soft, I’m before I even get to 9:00 if you know what I mean. So it might be like 9:00 grip down slow rhythm. It’s 20 yards off. Bang. Yeah. So yeah, last week was great test for it actually. Greens were like pudding high plays were like Yeah. It’s crazy. It’s just like bang rips back. Even eight irons coming back 15 foot and you’re like, “Yeah, good job.” Yeah, it’s tough. Yicker. And you got holes where the green’s sitting back to front, water short, got 120 yards. You’re like, I have to chip an eight on it. Yeah. But that helps when the pins at the back of the green, you just That guessing game’s out the window, is it? Your ball flight sorting all that out. Yeah. Your style is just going to sort out. So, no fear, mate. No fear. Something I’m trying to keep getting better at, but it’s definitely improved massively. Go on, Marra. You owe me a driver, by the way. Yeah, I’ll sort that out. Sort me over. Take that offset. Um, but look, we’ve talked about the past. Let’s briefly finish on the future. With this success, with the recent year you’ve had, what what are your next targets? What are your next dreams and aspirations now that you’ve reached your 60% Yeah. potential? How do we get to the You know, I want to be I want to be playing at Augusta in April. That’s, you know, I want to be there. That’s I want to have my first taste of that. That’s always been a dream of mine. My, you know, my family and I’ve always said, you know, we’re not going until we’re there watching you. So, you know, I’m not million miles away from that, but I want to, you know, I want to be playing with the best every week. I want to be um I love just being in their presence. I love learning from them. I love watching, you know, every player’s diff so good at different things. you know, played with Matt Fitzpatrick at the Scottish Open and you’re like some of the shots he hit, you’re like, “Oh my god, how good’s that?” Played with Tier last week and you see he weren’t fully on his game, but you’re watching him and you’re like like two players there who are consistent. He been top 25 in the world for five, six, seven years and like just appreciate being able to see it up close and they just find a way. Yeah. Learn from them, you know, and you can win ugly sometimes, right? And you know, they don’t do tons different to me, you know, and I have powers that they wish they would have, they have. So, it’s kind of everyone’s got their own parts of the game that’s like this is slightly better. I’m better than you at this, but I’m better than you at this and blah blah blah. So, I just love playing with the I love playing with the best. It’s been awesome. And, you know, I’ve not even played with Rory and Scotty yet. So, that’s hopefully, you know, if I’m playing with them week in week out, I think I’ll be doing pretty good. So that’s I think that’ll just look after everything else. I think when that happens they’ll be nicely impressed, Marker. Yeah, they will be, mate. Well, it might not even be a practice round, you know. Give it a few days. That’s it. That’s the aim. I’ll be home watching about that. That’s the aim. Yeah. So, but yeah, just keep topping up the wins and get up the world rankings, play rider cups, majors, etc. And did you play the open? played uh the I played three open played Liverpool, St. Andrews, Liverpool, Port Rush. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, it’s a good lineup. So, and it’s only getting better. Yeah, it’s great. Save yourself for St. Andrews again, mate. Yeah, that’s it. To be honest, just being I just being a good role model for the next young kids coming through, you know? I love I love that’s one of the things I love the most about being where I am today is being able to go over to little kids and make their day cuz one day that back in the day that was me especially here at this tournament I was here as a kid watching, you know, it’s pretty cool today going over to the side and signing some little kids hats and having a chat with them because that was me 15 years ago. Who were you following back then? I remember, it’s crazy because I remember um come back to me. I remember it must have been when I was about 11, so probably 16 years ago, 15 years ago. I remember watching Eddie Pepper around here. Oh, wow. I think he had like an R 11 driver or something. White the first white. The white ones were I don’t know why, but I was just obsessed with Eddie. I’m watched him. I think he was like the first player I saw and on the ball is like Peril and I watched him and I’m like yeah this guy’s really good and just for a couple of years was then like following him and I’m like oh Eddie Pepper he’s doing really well blah blah blah. Um but all of them you know Justin Rose isn’t Matt Fitz and there’s tons. Who’s the one though? Who’s the Everyone’s got a player. Everyone’s got a player. He’ll be a Tiger Woods guy. Obviously Tiger, but outside putting Tiger aside, um I’ve always, you know, when Brooks was at his best. Yeah. I just love his how ruthless he is, you know. Ruthless. Relentless. Relentless. Just at you. Yeah, he’s there. Eyes on the prize. Yeah, I’m having it. I’m coming. Yeah, I love I know. I like that, too. Oh, hopefully he can get back to his best sometime soon cuz I think it’s great when he’s there in the mix. Um with you. He mentally like has like a mental attitude. That’s who like a steely aura. He’s like, I’m coming for you. Yeah, I like that. I like that marker. I like Brooks. Yeah, he gave us the look this morning, didn’t he? He did give us We try to get him on our podcast. He will come on our podcast. Yeah, I’ve never actually met him to be fair. So, ah, I have to just introduce myself. Yeah, this is the week for it. I might be that fanboy again. He’s over for the next couple of weeks, mate. So, if you got a week off next week, he’s around, man. Yeah, just knock him up for a little ner little bit on the side. Thank you very much. Can’t do that. Just like just thank the carrot. Oh, brilliant. Well, on that note, before you go something too stupid, um I know where my money’s going this week. Uh but uh don’t say anything. But um no, honestly, mate, like to hear your story, follow your story, and to be where you are today. It’s been exciting, but I know for damn sure it’s only just begun. So, thanks very much for your time, Johnny. Always a pleasure to have you here. Thanks for having me, guys. Yeah. All the best for the end of the year and and going forward, mate. Wicked. Cheers, lads. Crazy, Marco. Well done, buddy. Thank you. Cheers, boys. Cheers, got through that. Oh, mate. M I’m filling mine up again. Don’t worry about that. Thank you very much. [Music] To watch another DP World Tour video, click here. And to subscribe, click here.