MEMORIES OF MEDINAH AS POULTER TRIUMPHS

TAKE a bow, Ian Poulter. Trailing his exciting young playing partner Beau Hossler by one shot on the 18th hole at the end of a classic duel at the Houston Open yesterday, Mr Ryder Cup showed up. Facing an all or nothing 20ft putt to force extra holes, the Englishman rolled in the putt in scarcely believable fashion and beat his chest like he did at Medinah in 2012. In a way it was a shame that either player missed out on all the perks but Hossler’s time will undoubtedly come again. For 42-year-old Poulter this was quite simply a passport back into the big time. Not only the Masters, but this will get him into every other big event this summer. Mark him down for a return to the Ryder Cup in Paris right now. When they went to the first extra hole, it was almost inevitable that Poulter would win. Shattered by that birdie putt from the Englishman, Hossler bladed a bunker shot when they went back to the 18th for a double bogey to hand Poulter the victory. So the most exciting build-up to a Masters in living memory continued to the end. Seven days after falling just three-hundreds of a point short of earning a Masters place through the top 50 in the world rankings — he was 51st, needless to say — Poulter has now had the last word with his first strokeplay win in America. For three rounds, Jordan Spieth had played better than anyone from tee to green and yet couldn’t putt. He stood 88th of the 90 players who made the halfway cut in putting and when did we ever think we would see that? A more customary service was resumed yesterday as he rolled in a 25ft putt at the 18th to complete a 66 for tied third place that gives the Open champion momentum heading towards his favourite major. All season, he has watched his rivals in turn pick up a trophy this season while he has struggled. But the 24-year-old Texan and Masters specialist might yet have the last laugh in Georgia after seeing a number of putts finally start to fall. ‘I’m really pleased with my 66 and I’ve made some really big strides this week,’ said Spieth. ‘I had some pressure-packed putts today and I started them on line. I’m really excited to see what next week holds.’

Aren’t we all, Jordan. Aren’t we all.