One of the biggest problems facing golf is the issue of slow play. While there has been more of an emphasis placed on doing something about it in recent years, on Sunday in Dubai, pace of play was not an issue for Ian Poulter.
The Englishman entered the final round of the DP World Tour Championship in last place after firing rounds of 72-74-76 to sit at 6-over par in the 60-man field. That poor play over the first three rounds earned him a 7 a.m. tee time as a single.
Off and running (literally!) ??♂️#DPWTC #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/dxkFCj9CsB
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 18, 2018
With little to play for, Poulter made the most of his predicament and put the race in the Race to Dubai as he flew around the Jumeirah Golf Estates in just 2 hours and 22 minutes, a full 92 minutes faster than the expected pace of play.
That was a nice swift round.. You can see the time sheet we finished in 2 hours 22 minutes which was 92 quicker than the allowed time.. ??? Shot 3 under par. @terrymundy little legs were ok.. well done Telpot.. ?????? @EuropeanTour @dpworld pic.twitter.com/yVjF0kSpz0
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) November 18, 2018
Naturally, taking some of the thought out of the process, Poulter fired his best round of the week, a 3-under par 69.
“I’m a quick player. I don’t like slow play so today was quite refreshing.”
Off first, @IanJamesPoulter just shot a 69 in 142 minutes.#DPWTC #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/vGCzpj7S3S
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 18, 2018
“I’m lying last, it’s a carefree day,” Poulter said after the round. “It didn’t matter where I finished in relative terms. I could have shot 7-under and moved forward six places, seven places so, it was quite enjoyable just to get out there and get it done and get back in for breakfast.
“I made a couple of birdies. I made Terry (Mundy, my caddie) forward caddie on a couple of holes. I took the putter to the green and allowed him to go to the next fairway. We played in a decent pace. I’m a quick player. I don’t like slow play, so today was quite refreshing.”
Poulter’s 69 moved him five spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 51st place, 21 shots behind eventual winner Danny Willett.
Poulter isn’t the first player to fly around a course on a professional circuit. In the last two years, both Kevin Na and Wesley Bryan have broken the two-hour mark in competitive rounds. Surprisingly or not, in all three cases, the players shot their lowest round of the week playing quicker.
Maybe they’re onto something.
