Ian Poulter and Beau Hossler both must win the Shell Houston Open to get into the Masters at Augusta Nationa next week and they have put themselves in position to do exactly that.
Poulter (pictured), the 42-year-old Englishman, made two late birdies to card a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 to tie Hossler, who shot 69, for the lead after three rounds on the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
“I had my bags packed because there was a chance I would miss the cut and have to fly home on Friday,” said Poulter, who opened with a 73 but made it to the weekend with a 64 in round two. “It was frustrating because I had some results that were not good.
“Then I opened my shoulders and was able to see the line on the greens, and started to roll in some putts. It was great to see them start going in again. I’m hoping for more of the same tomorrow, and who knows?”
Poulter, who has won 12 times as a pro but not since the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions, posted a 54-hole score of 14-under 202, making five birdies on the first 10 holes and adding two more on the 16th and 17th.
Hossler, 23, the rookie from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., who played college golf at Texas, was at even-par for the day through 11 holes before making three birdies on the back nine, the last with a seven-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
Greg Chalmers of Australia birdies his first three holes and added five birdies while finishing a 65 on the front nine and is two strokes back in a tie for third with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who had a 67, plus Kevin Tway and Paul Dunne of Ireland, who both finished at 69.
Robert Garrigus and Keith Mitchell both shot 67 and are one more shot behind in a tie for seventh with Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Chesson Hadley, who all had 69s, and Sam Ryder, who came in at 71.
Fourth-ranked Jordan Spieth totaled 71 and is tied for 13th, eighth-ranked Rickie Fowler stumbled to a 73 and is tied for 17th, fifth-ranked Justin Rose of England is tied for 31st after a 72, defending champion Russell Henley finished at 70 and is tied for 48th and Phil Mickelson is tied for 55th after a 72.
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