Ian Poulter lost in the quarterfinals of the WGC-Dell Match Play last week and thought he was going home early on Thursday when he shot 1-over-par 73 in the first round of the Shell Houston Open.
Instead, the 42-year-old Englishman is going to the Masters this week.
Poulter punched his ticket to Augusta National by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation to get into a playoff and then beat rookie Beau Hossler with a par on the first extra hole of the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
“Last week was painful,” said Poulter, who claimed his third PGA Tour victory but first since the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions. “And to come here this week, I was tired, I was frustrated on Thursday. I didn’t play my best stuff. I had packed my bags obviously to leave on Friday.
“Obviously to play like I did today, I was patient. I waited my time. This is amazing. I haven’t won a stroke play event in the States. So to do it this week after the disappointment of last week, to know I’m going to Augusta, to do it in this fashion, it’s amazing.
“I had a good read obviously (on the 72nd hole). … I had to dig deep today, and I just rolled it in at the right time.”
Poulter, who has won 17 times in his pro career, was tied for the lead with Hossler, from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., entering the final round and both closed with 5-under-par 67s to finished at 19-under 269.
Hossler, who was a two-time college All-American at Texas, had four straight birdies on the back nine and barely missed a 30-foot putt to win on the final hole of regulation. Then he hit his third shot on the playoff hole from a greenside bunker into the water on the other side of the green and it was over.
“I got the best of Ian Poulter today and he got the best of me,” said Hossler, who also needed to win to qualify for the Masters. “Unfortunately he came out on top this time, but I feel good about my chances moving forward, and I feel good that I can contend when it’s important.
“I said yesterday I wanted to beat these guys at their best and I think I saw Ian’s best today. It’s a bummer right now, but I’m proud of the way I played.”
Fourth-ranked Jordan Spieth prepped for the Masters with a 66 to finish three strokes back in a tie for third with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who totaled 68, while rookie Sam Ryder was another shot behind in solo fifth after a 68.
Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Keith Mitchell were another stroke down in a tie for sixth after 69s, while defending champion Russell Henley closed with a 65 to wind up six strokes behind in a tie for eighth with Matt Every (66), Julian Suri (67), Abraham Ancer (69) of Mexico, Matt Kuchar (70) and Paul Dunne (71) of Ireland.
Phil Mickelson warmed up for Augusta with a bogey-free 67 to tie for 24th, eighth-ranked Rickie Fowler tied for 43rd after a second straight 73, and fifth-ranked Justin Rose of England shot 72 for the second straight day to tie for 52nd.
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