Poulter delivers his own Masters invite with win at Houston Open

Ian Poulter delivered another big moment Sunday, this one for himself.

Down to his last putt, Poulter made a 20-foot birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Beau Hossler, and then he won the Houston Open with a par on the first extra hole to earn the last spot in the Masters.

One week after Poulter was mistakenly told he had locked up a spot at Augusta National through the world ranking, he left no doubt by winning with a clutch moment reminiscent of his Ryder Cup heroics from Medinah in 2012.

“I had to dig deep today,” said Poulter, who closed with a 5-under 67.

Hossler, who also shot 67, overcame a three-shot deficit with four straight birdies on the back nine. He had a chance to win on the 18th in regulation with a 30-foot birdie putt that trickled over the right edge of the cup.

That set the stage for Poulter, and the 42-year-old from England lived up to his nickname as “The Postman” by delivering his biggest putt in years.

Poulter pounded his chest five times when the putt dropped, and all Hossler could do was smile.

Poulter won for the third time on the PGA Tour, and his first in America since the Match Play in 2010 at Arizona.

Meanwhile at the LPGA’s ANA Inspiration tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif., four playoff holes couldn’t decide a winner before dusk set in and play was postponed until Monday morning.

Inbee Park and Pernilla Lindberg tied along with Jennifer Song at 15-under. Song was eliminated on the third playoff hole, leaving Park and Lindberg to fight for the first major of the year.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton finished in a tie for 37th at 4-under while Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., finished at 2-under in a tie for 48th.