lˈeɪt ɪn hɪz pˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ tˈʊɹ kɚɹˈɪɹ, pˈuːli bɪɡˈæn tʊ ɛkspˈiəɹɪəns mˈɛni dᵻbˈɪlᵻtˌeɪɾɪŋ ˈeɪlmənts, ænd mˈɪst sˈɛvɹəl jˈɪɹz ʌv plˈeɪɪŋ tˈaɪm æz ɐ ɹɪzˈʌlt; haʊˈɛvɚ, hiː ɛndʒˈɔɪd ɐ ɹᵻsˈɜːdʒəns ɪn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ ˈæftɚ tˈɜːnɪŋ fˈɪfti ɪn ˈɔːɡəst tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn wɛn hiː bɪɡˈæn plˈeɪ ɔnðə tʃˈæmpiənz tˈʊɹ.
Late in his PGA Tour career, Pooley began to experience many debilitating ailments, and missed several years of playing time as a result; however, he enjoyed a resurgence in his career after turning 50 in August 2001 when he began play on the Champions Tour.