The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Garcia upbeat ahead of Masters defence at Augusta
HOustON OP5N: Eohlkshnao holbs hks oEsvE to clakn rlacE ko thE MastEss
Ian Poulter secured his place at the Masters after a nerveless play-off victory against American Beau Hossler at the Houston Open.
Poulter, who held a four-shot lead midway through the final round, trailed by one with three holes remaining after Hossler rattled in four successive birdies from the 12th.
Hossler’s putt for a birdie on the 18th missed the hole by millimetres to leave Poulter with the chance to take the match to a play-off.
He kept his nerve as he putted from 20 feet to extend the tournament, prompting a passionate show of emotion as he beat his chest in celebration.
Hossler’s quest for his first PGA title ended in disaster after finding bunkers with his first two shots when replaying the 18th.
His third shot from a greenside bunker found water handing the initiative to Poulter who took his chance to secure victory with a steady par.
With just one place up for grabs, only victory at the Golf Club of Houston would have been enough for the Englishman to earn his right to play in the season’s first major after narrowly missing out through his world rankings position and a mix-up during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play last week.
The 42-year-old found himself 51st in this week’s world rankings, with the top 50 players receiving an invite to Augusta National, which came two days after being informed that he had done enough to qualify ahead of his quarter-final in Mexico, only to be told 10 minutes before his defeat to Kevin Kisner that he required another victory.
Poulter’s chances of qualification looked slim when he carded a poor first round in Houston – where he hit a oneover par 73 to sit 123rd – but he recovered to record a flawless eightunder on Friday and seven birdies on Saturday to share the lead with Hossler ahead of the final round before sealing his first title since the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions.
Poulter, whose best performance at the Masters came in 2015 when he finished tied sixth, admitted yesterday’s victory will take some time to sink in after describing the last few years as a rollercoaster.
“It is amazing, to get this done today to get me to Augusta is amazing,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’m going to have a good day’s rest tomorrow, I will not be venturing to Augusta until Tuesday.
“It’s going to take a little while to sink in. I’m super excited.
“It’s been a rollercoaster the last couple of years to be honest, to be down where I was has been tough.”
Argentinian Emiliano Grillo bogeyed the last to finish alongside three-time major championship winner Jordan Spieth at 16 under, with American Sam Ryder one shot further adrift.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was tied for sixth with Keith Mitchell on 14-under par, while Ireland’s Paul Dunne was among six players to finish a further stroke away.