HUMBLE, Texas (AP) Ian Poulter has played in the Experts a dozen times, never missing the particular cut. Sweetheart Hossler has never performed a competitive round at Augusta National.
Both are usually in position to become the last man within the Masters field, and neither would like to think about it.
The 42-year-old Poulter surged into a share from the lead at the Houston Open upon Saturday with a 7-under 65, plus Hossler, a 23-year-old PGA Trip rookie, matched him at 14-under 202 after he holed the 7-footer for birdie on the par-4 18th to shoot 69.
Like all PGA Visit events that offer full FedEx Mug points, the Houston Open name comes with an invitation to next week’ s Masters.
” No, not thinking about it, not discussing it, ” Poulter said. ” I’ m going to go out and also have some fun tomorrow. There’ h a lot of ifs and buts. I’ ll have no emotion at all. I’ m in a no-lose situation. … I’ ll go do our job. ”
4 players were two shots at the rear of Poulter and Hossler – Aussie Greg Chalmers (65), Argentina’ s i9000 Emiliano Grillo (67), American Kevin Tway (69) and Paul Dunne of Ireland (69) – plus none of them has a spot at Augusta yet either.
Hossler has popped up on a major leaderboard before – he briefly directed the 2012 U. S. Open up while still in high school – and he said getting to the Experts would be ” as good as it will get. ” But he said considering that opportunity would only result in ” trouble” on Sunday.
Poulter shot 64 upon Friday after opening with a 73 that had him packing their bags in anticipation of a skipped cut. It was the first time since their last victory in 2012 that he experienced consecutive rounds of 65 or even better on the PGA Tour.
Asked if his models ranked among the best back-to-back efforts in the 23 years of touring professionally, Poulter said, ” From a putting perspective, yes, absolutely. ”
It was a simple fix for the The english language veteran renowned for making crucial putts on winning Ryder Cup groups. He opened his shoulders somewhat, allowing him to see the lines much better, and has played his last forty holes in 16 under, with no bogey.
” Ideally I’ ve found the key, ” Poulter said. ” I need to create it down and, when it’ s not there, I need to look over it. ”
Poulter nearly made it into the Masters a week ago with a run to the quarterfinals on the Dell Technologies Match Play, which usually improved his world ranking in order to 51st – just missing the particular cutoff to move into the top fifty. Making matters worse, he had already been told by media members that will his quarterfinals appearance would ensure him enough ranking points. Yet just before he began his quarterfinal match up, officials informed him that he’ d need to make the semis.
The news knocked Poulter away from his game and he lost terribly, 8 and 6, to Kevin Kisner .
” Some people had been getting in my head space, which is never ever good, ” Poulter said. ” Yeah, maybe I was a bit furious on Thursday. Maybe I was type of forcing, trying to force my method into (the Masters). That didn’ t work, so I had to re-think it. I kind of had to movement the cobwebs out, reset plus go again. ”
Rickie Fowler birdied three of the 1st four holes to move into the prospect before he faltered with a dual bogey on the sixth hole and also a triple bogey – including the three-putt from inside 7 feet – on the par-5 13th. He photo 73 and was five pictures back.
Jordan Spieth , whose putter appeared to be heating up after a season-long downturn, had four three-putts in the very first eight holes – including 2 misses from inside 4 feet – and shot 71. He trailed by four shots.
Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar had been 11 under, among the dozen gamers within three shots of the business lead.
Ninety players teed off Saturday, the most in nearly three years on the PGA Tour, right after Bobby Entrance ‘ final-hole bogey upon Friday allowed an additional 20 gamers to make the cut. Seventy-five remain right after Saturday’ s secondary cut, which includes Phil Mickelson , who had a double bogey and a triple bogey in his circular of 72.
Since he’ s out of the hunt, Mickelson will spend Sunday trying to equipment up his game for Augusta. Hossler, Poulter and many others can only expect the chance to do the same.
