Ian Poulter wins the Houston Open

Ian Poulter has won the Houston Open in dramatic style, with victory on the first playoff hole against 23-year-old American Beau Hossler, and with it his ticket to this year's Masters. 

Poulter made a strong start with birdies on the second, fourth, sixth and eighth, before dropping a shot on the par three 9th. He was still out in 33, and holding the lead.

He birdied again on the 11th to hold a two shot lead. But he still had to reckon with 23-year-old Beau Hossler. He had got off to a slow start with a single birdie on the front nine, but then put his foot down and reeled off four back-to-back birdies from the 12th through the 15th to take a one shot lead from Poulter.

Here's Poulter's great birdie on the 11th.

Hossler was only 17 years old when he qualified for his second consecutive US Open in 2012,  finishing tied for 29th, and he had held the outright lead midway through the second round. In 2015, he qualified for the U.S. Open for a third time and tied for 58th place. So he has experienced the heat of serious competition before. 

He made three final pars, but the event was by no means over as Poulter made a massive birdie on the 18th to force his way back into a playoff. Too much drama! 

GolfPunk's Editor, Tim Southwell, backed Poulter on TalkSport this week, and put his money where is mouth, so he is now sitting pretty.

Here's Poulter's drive on the first playoff hole - a corker.

And here's Poulter's winning putt.

Poulter only needed a par on the first playoff hole, as Hossler had a complete nightmare, with his first two shots ending in bunkers and his third in the water. He finished with a seven, and the glory was all Poulter's. 

In other news from the tournament, Jordan Spieth is back in form, as he finished third, with a final day round of 66. We are now all set for what could be an absolutely amazing Masters. Let the games begin!

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