Sign up for our daily newsletter

Want latest news, reviews, analysis, deals, and events, and offers from our commercial partners? We’ve got you.

You can add Ian Poulter to the list of tour pros that are fed up with the slow players on tour.

Only a matter of days after the matter boiled to a head with Bryson DeChambeau’s antics at last week’s Northern Trust, Ryder Cup stalwart Poulter was asked for his take on the issue.

The 43-year-old, you probably won’t be surprised to hear, is as frustrated with it as everybody else.

“There have been several instances where the stop clock has been abused in that fact to the other player’s detriment, and the other player doesn’t have a care that they’ve taken too long, which is disrespectful to your playing partners more than anything else,” he said ahead of this week’s BMW Championship at Medinah.

• Phil takes aim at Luke in weird Twitter spat

• Tiger provides injury update

• Rory hails this season as his “most consistent by far”

“The fans are going to think what they think but it’s a shame. It needs to be addressed.

“I think certain players need to have a look at those situations, and if you take a couple of penalties during the year, then that’s on them.”

REVIEWED – THE NEW TITLEIST T-SERIES IRONS

Poulter also revealed that he used to be a slow player until the European Tour’s chief referee intervened and helped him change his ways.

• REVIEWED – New Titleist hybrid & utilities

“I was told 17 years ago by John Paramor that the way I read my putts was a process that was taking too long,” he added. “So I worked with him on-site on a practice green for him to show me how long that process was taking because I was on the clock. It was taking me 62 seconds and 58 seconds and 75 seconds.

• Topgolf is coming to Glasgow

• Another Scottish course faces threat of closure

“We went away, we addressed that situation and I found another way of going through my process. I changed that routine 17 years ago and I don’t believe I’ve really had many issues since.

“It’s something that can be worked on. You need to own up and take responsibility of addressing your routine and making sure you stay within the respectful time that you’re given to hit the putt.”


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

More Reads

Image Turnberry green

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland

Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

Find Courses

Latest podcast

The PLAYERS Championship