Poulter secures spot at the Masters after Houston win
Ian Poulter resurrected his career by winning the Houston Open in a playoff with an added bonus of earning the final invitation to the U.S. Masters.
Poulter was always heading to Augusta to work on the tournament for British television, but the 42-year-old Englishman will now be inside the ropes instead when the first major championship of the year starts on Thursday.
"There's life in the old dog yet," Poulter said after beating American Beau Hossler on the first hole of a sudden death playoff at Golf Club of Houston.
Poulter, without a win since 2012, arrived in Houston needing nothing less than victory to qualify for the Masters after missing out by a whisker when he found himself 51st in the world rankings last week.
The top 50 at last Monday's cutoff earned exemption to Augusta and Poulter was so dejected after being initially misinformed he was in the Masters field that he considered skipping Houston.
"Tuesday morning I made the decision to come and play. It was a good decision," he added. "The win doesn't just mean getting to Augusta. There's a lot bigger things on the horizon."
Such as, hopefully, the Ryder Cup in France this autumn. Poulter, a five-times European team member, said his win would tell captain Thomas Bjorn: "Hey, I'm here, my game is in good shape."
But more immediately is the Masters, to which Poulter will go after returning to his Orlando, Florida home for a brief reunion with his family.
"I need to unpack, have some chocolate with the kids tonight and repack for Augusta," he said.
Published: by Radio NewsHub