Masterful playoff win for Poulter
Ian Poulter delivered another big moment yesterday, this one for himself.
Down to his last putt, Poulter made a 20foot birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Beau Hossler, and then he won the Houston Open in Humble, Texas, 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-par 67. Hossler, who also shot 67, overcame a 3-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.
In the sudden-death playoff on the 18th, one of the more daunting finishing holes off the tee with water down the left side and a bunker to the right, Hossler found the bunker for the second time. He hit into a greenside bunker, and his third shot caught way too much ball and went over the green and into the water.
Poulter was safely on the green as Hossler took his penalty drop, chipped onto the green and took two putts for a triple bogey. They finished at 19-under 269.
Jordan Spieth closed with a 66 and tied for third with Emiliano Grillo (68)
LPGA: There’s always tomorrow
Inbee Park and Pernilla Lindberg played until it was too dark to see — and still couldn’t decide the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
They’ll return to Mission Hills this morning for the fifth extra hole in the LPGA Tour’s first major championship of the season.
Jennifer Song dropped out with a par on the third playoff hole, and Park and Lindberg decided to take one more trip down the par-5 18th in fading light.
With portable lights and the scoreboard helping illuminate the green, Park made a 6-foot par putt and Lindberg made a short putt to match. They finished at 7:21 p.m., 15 minutes after sunset.
Play will resume on the par-4 10th in the first Monday finish in tournament history.
On the third extra hole, Park hit a wedge from the rough to 11⁄2 feet to set up a birdie, and Lindberg made a 5-footer. Song missed a 10-foot birdie try.