IAN POULTER played excellently at the Dubai Desert Classic after his long injury lay-off - as Sergio Garcia took a three shot lead playing in the pitch black.
Englishman Poulter stopped looking at the world rankings as he was laid up so he was shocked to learn he has plummeted to 202nd!
Floodlit golf @thesergiogarcia birdied 18 in the darkness to take a three shot lead into the final round of the #DDC17
He spluttered: Never! Outside the top 200? Did you have to tell me that? Ive been avoiding checking out the rankings lately because I knew it was bad - but not THAT bad.
The last time I was lower than 200 was just before I got my first win, at the Italian Open 17 years ago, so its a proper kick up the backside.
I was determined to turn things round now that Im feeling healthy and good about my game again, and that just gives me a little extra incentive.
Poulters trademark grit shone through on the third day of the Desert Classic, where he had to play 32 holes because of the fierce winds that halted play 24 hours earlier.
He birdied five of the final six holes of his catch-up round, and then produced anther power-packed finish with three birdies in the last four to charge into a share of third place on 11 under par.
It was a hugely encouraging performance. But he will still have to go some to catch Sergio Garcia, whose own birdie-birdie finish in near-darkness took him to 16 under, three clear of closest pursuer Henrik Stenson
Before the four month absence that wrecked his hopes of a sixth Ryder Cup appearance last year, Poulter was already a lowly 85th on the world list.
But a near-miss at the Puerto Rico Open, where he was edged out of a place in a play-off after failing to birdie the par five final hole, convinced him the only way was up.
He was then forced to shut down completely after being diagnosed with an arthritic toe after being told rest was the only cure.
And he suffered the added frustration of watching Europe take a Ryder Cup pasting at Hazeltine from the sidelines, as one of Darren Clarkes vice-captains.
It is now more than four years since his last victory a second World Golf Championship crown at the HSBC Champions event in November 2012. But his performance here is compelling evidence yet that Poulter still has plenty to offer.
Too right I have, he added. Im already focussing on making the 2018 Ryder Cup team and no-one has to remind me another win is long overdue.
I should have won in Puerto Rico, and before that I made a right mess of the Honda Classic, after I was leading by five shots at one point in the final round.
After this week, the first priority is to make the money I need from the six events left on my medical exemption to guarantee my playing rights for the rest of the year its around $200,000, and I want to nail that down as quickly as possible.
Im obviously hand-picking the events I expect to play well in at the moment, and that opened up the opportunity to play Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and its really helped me get back onto the right track.
Poulter needs to climb back into the worlds top fifty to qualify for the Majors and World Golf Championship shoot-outs, but he knows the odds are he will not manage it before the Masters in April.
His only realistic chance is to win one of the three events he will tackle in the USA before Augusta all Tour winners earn an automatic invitation.
But even if the first Major of the year comes too soon, Poults says he will be back among the elite sooner rather than later.
And he brushed aside all attempts to compare his situation with that of Tiger Woods, who withdrew from the Desert Classic with another back injury.
He added: Dont even go there Ive basically got a bad toe, which is manageable, while Tigers obviously been having some serious issues with his back. I wish him all the best in his recovery, but theres just no comparison.
Im feeling good again, and I really believe my next win is not far away and when it happens, come and show me those world rankings again!