2018 Shell Houston Open Recap

Humble, TX – It looked like Ian Poulter would cruise to an easy win on Sunday at the Houston Open and a well deserved entry in The Masters, but Beau Hossler had other ideas. Poulter had a three stroke lead with seven left to play and was striking the ball well from every part of the course. He was dropping putts from everywhere on the greens, chipping and pitching within feet of the hole, while Hossler continued to stay focused and poised.

With only seven left to play, Hossler made an epic comeback to push Poulter to the limits. Hossler, the 23 year old Mission Viejo native, birdied four straight holes after that and took a one-stroke lead after the 15th. With 20-feet between Poulter and a playoff with Hossler, and not to mention a berth in The Masters field, he knocked in a slight right-to-left putt to force another PGA Tour playoff.

Poulter and Hossler returned to the 18th hole and mayhem reaped all its glory on Beau’s game. Hossler thinned a greenside bunker shot into the water and would go on to triple-bogey. Poulter would put a 35-foot birdie putt 3-feet just above the hole and drop it in for par and his well deserved Masters invitation.

The win this weekend would end a very difficult, emotional week for Poulter. Last week, after reaching the quarterfinals of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, he was told he was invited to play at Augusta National in The Masters. Unfortunately, this was incorrect and Poulter needed to reach the semifinals to get an automatic bid. There was one other option, though: Win the Houston Open. Well, he did just that and will be competing next weekend for the illustrious green jacket.

As for Hossler, he doesn’t get his first PGA Tour win but his talent says we won’t have to wait long. The The highly touted junior and college player has been making splashes in his rookie year and continues to show flashes of greatness.

Other Notables: Russell Henley, defending champion, finishes at 12-under and a tie for eight. Jordan Spieth looks like he is ready for Augusta next weekend after finishing in a tie for third at 16-under. Rickie Fowler shot a final round 73 to finish 8-under and tied for 43rd. Phil Mickelson shot a 67 on Sunday to jump up the leaderboard just a bit and finish 10-under.