HUMBLE, Texas — 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, then won the Houston Open with a par on the first extra hole to earn a spot in the Masters.
One week after Poulter was mistakenly told he had locked up a spot at Augusta National through the world rankings, 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. With a one-shot lead, he had a chance to clinch the victory on the 18th in regulation, but his 30-foot birdie putt trickled over the right edge of the cup.
That set the stage for Poulter, who delivered his biggest putt in years. Poulter pounded his chest when the putt dropped, and all Hossler could do was smile.
“I did think I’d made it,” Hossler said, “but it hung out there. Ian basically had the same putt and there’s no way he was going to miss it after watching my ball. I gave Ian the perfect read (for him) to make his putt. I knew he was going to make it.”
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.
Poulter got his third win on the PGA Tour, and his first in U.S. since the Match Play in 2010.
LPGA: Inbee Park and Pernilla Lindberg will have to return Monday to continue their playoff at the ANA Inspiration after four extra holes weren’t enough to decide a winner at Rancho Mirage, California.
Park, Lindberg and Jennifer Song all parred the par-5 18th on the first two extra holes, then Park and Lindberg birdied it the third time while Song was eliminated with a par. Park and Lindberg then made par on their fourth try as darkness set in.
All three birdied the 18th in regulation to finish at 15 under. Park and Song shot 5-under 67 in the final round, and Lindberg had a 71.
Park, the 2013 winner, is seeking her eighth major championship. Neither Lindberg nor Song have won on the LPGA Tour.
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