To say the last week for Ian Poulter has been a whirlwind would be an understatement.
Last Saturday, after his 2&1 win in the Round of 16 at the WGC-Match Play over Louis Oosthuizen, Poulter was informed by many in the media that he had qualified for the Masters. After going out later that afternoon and getting blown out 8&6 by Kevin Kisner in the quarterfinals, he was informed that the information he got was incorrect. Fast forward to Sunday, and there is no question anymore. Ian Poulter will be competing at the Masters.
Poulter nailed that 20 footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Beau Hossler. From there, he pared the first playoff hole to win the Houston Open and earn the final Masters spot that came with it.
The win was Poulter’s first worldwide win since 2012 and his first ever stroke-play victory ever on American soil.
Poulter got so detered after the fiasco from last Saturday that he almost considered not even showing up in Houston this week. Then he went out and shot a 73 on Thursday. He was so frustrated, he packed his bags and prepared to go home to Florida the next day. Instead, he bounced back with a 64, and shot 65-67 on the weekend.
“Last week was painful,” he said. “To come here this week, I was tired. I was frustrated on Thursday. … I was patient. I waited my time. And this is amazing.”
In addition to that Masters birth, the win puts Poulter in the top 30 which will likely earn him spots into the other three majors.