Clutch Poulter gets Masters invite

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 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 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.

In the playoff on the 18th 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. LPGA Tour: Inbee Park and Pernilla Lindberg played until it was too dark to see Sunday night – and still couldn’t decide the ANA Inspiration.

They’ll return to Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Monday for the fifth extra hole in the LPGA’s first major 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 helping illuminate the green, Park made a 6foot par putt and Lindberg made a short putt to match.

Play will resume at 8 a.m. on the par-4 10th in the first Monday finish in tournament history.