Ian Poulter Beats Beau Hossler in Playoff to Win 2018 Houston Open

Ian Poulter is heading to the Masters.

Poulter carded a five-under 67 and defeated Beau Hossler in the first playoff hole to win the 2018 Houston Open in Humble, Texas. The 42-year-old qualified for the year's first major as a result of the victory, his first on the PGA Tour since 2012.

Poulter and Hossler finished 19 under overall, three strokes ahead of Jordan Spieth and Emiliano Grillo in third place. Sam Ryder (-15) rounded out the top five.

Poulter went into the 18th hole of regulation play down a stroke to Hossler, who had reeled off four straight birdies from Nos. 12-15. He left himself with a 20-foot putt to send things to a playoff, which he drained to the roar—both from himself and the crowd.

"I had a good read obviously," Poulter said, per Christopher Powers of Golf Digest. "Beau hit a good putt, and I thought he holed it, it stayed a little high so my putt was about three feet to the right, I knew mine was actually going to break just a fraction right to left."

There was little doubt once the playoff got underway. The 23-year-old tripped himself up in the sudden death playoff, hitting a shot from the greenside bunker into the water, and wound up carding a triple-bogey 7. Poulter calmly tapped his way in for par without any trouble.

The win leaves no question that Poulter will play in the upcoming Masters Tournament starting April 5. A week ago, he had been told he had entered the top 50 of the world rankings to qualify for the event but later found out that was a mistake, leaving his qualification up to his performance this week.

"Last week was painful, and to come here this week, I was tired, I was frustrated on Thursday, I didn't play my best stuff. I packed my bags obviously to leave on Friday, and, a mental switch, I said to Jamie today, you know what, let's just go play golf, see what happens" Poulter said. "I was patient, I waited my time, and this is amazing, you know I haven't won a stroke play event in the states, so, to do it this week after the disappointment of last week, to know I'm going to Augusta to do it in true fashion is amazing."

Poulter has finished in the top 10 three different times at Augusta, most recently in 2015.