Poulter, Hossler share lead, eye Masters spot

HUMBLE, Texas — Ian Poulter has played in the Masters a dozen times, never missing the cut. Beau Hossler has never played a competitive round at Augusta National.

Both are in position to become the last man in the Masters field, and neither wants to think about it.

The 42-year-old Poulter surged into a share of the lead at the Houston Open on Saturday with a 7-under 65, and Hossler, a 23-year-old PGA Tour rookie, matched him at 14-under 202 after he holed a 7-footer for birdie on the par-4 18th to shoot 69.

Like all PGA Tour events that offer full FedEx Cup points, the Houston Open title comes with an invitation to next week’s Masters.

Four players were two shots behind Poulter and Hossler — Australian Greg Chalmers (65), Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (67), American Kevin Tway (69) and Paul Dunne of Ireland (69) — and none of them has a spot at Augusta yet either.

Hossler has popped up on a major leaderboard before — he briefly led the 2012 U.S. Open while still in high school — and he said getting to the Masters would be “as good as it gets.” But he said contemplating that opportunity would only lead to “trouble” on Sunday.

Rickie Fowler birdied three of the first four holes to move into the lead before he faltered with a double bogey on the sixth hole and a triple bogey — including a three-putt from inside 7 feet — on the par-5 13th. He shot 73 and was five shots back.

Jordan Spieth, whose putter appeared to be heating up after a season-long slump, had four three-putts in the first eight holes — including two misses from inside 4 feet — and shot

71. He trailed by four shots.

■ At Rancho Mirage, Calif., Pernilla Lindberg took advantage of playing partner Sung Hyun Park’s late collapse to take a three-stroke lead in the ANA Inspiration.

Lindberg shot a 2-under 70 at Mission Hills to move to 14-under 202, putting the 31-yearold Swede in position to make the major her first professional victory. Amy Olson was second after a 68.

Lindberg was two strokes behind after Park birdied the par-5 11th. The group was then put on the clock for slow play, and Park dropped five strokes in the next five holes.

Park had a 74 to fall into a tie for third at 10 under with Inbee Park, Moriya Jutanugarn, Jennifer Song, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Charley Hull.

LPGA —