Why Ian Poulter sprinted the last two holes at Sawgrass

Ian Poulter has a bit of previous at racing around Sawgrass' iconic island 17th hole to save himself an early wake-up call.

Poulter last did it in 2011 and now, at the ripe old age of 46, he sprinted round the par 3 so he could finish the hole and tee off on 18 before the hooter sounded. Better still it meant that his playing partners, Pat Perez and Jhonattan Vegas, could also get done in the dark to save themselves the early start.

The Englishman actually birdied the 17th and then, with the group ahead, stepping to the side, ballooned his tee shot miles right before very nearly chipping in for the unlikeliest of birdies.

He would sign for a 73 and he got to spend a very wet Friday in the comfort of his digs for the week.

Perez, who birdied 18 in the dark, was particularly grateful of Poulter's efforts.

"It's nice, it's nice. Now I don't have to do sh-t tomorrow. It's perfect. Poulter just said I'm running. He's done it before. God bless him," said Perez.

Not that there was much chance of Perez of joining Poulter in the dash to the 18th tee box.

"I told him, I would have had a heart attack running around the water."

Speed golf. 🏃@IanJamesPoulter with the fastest birdie you'll see on 17.

He's racing the sunlight and wants to finish. pic.twitter.com/gWvFohgEJs

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2022