Ian Poulter punched his ticket to Magnolia Lane with his win in Houston

Humble, Texas - Everybody knew the scenerio coming into the week,

Ian Poulter needed a win to get into the Masters. Having never won a

stroke play event in the states, it seemed like a longshot for Poulter to

get to Magnolia Lane. In fact, early in the week at the Golf Club of

Houston, the Englishman decided he needed a putter change to jump-

start his game. He summoned up the services of an old reliable flatstick

that served him well at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. When asked

about the putter (an Odyssey #7), he simply said "I just know I can't

blame this putter, it has gotten the job done so many times before."

Standing on the 72nd hole facing a must make 20 foot birdie putt to

stay alive (and force a playoff with Beau Hossler), he summoned up

the magic with his old blade once again. As the ball dropped, Poulter

pounded his chest in celebration (as if to show the world how much

heart he has). Both Players finished tied at -19 at the end of regulation.

Ian Poulter celebrates after nailing the must make putt to tie in regulation.

In the playoff, Hossler drove into the right fairway bunker while Poulter

was safely in the first cut. Hossler blocked his approach into the right

greenside bunker, and Poulter reached the green safely some 30 feet

away. Beau Hossler flew his sand shot over the green into the water

hazard - and it was over just like that. Poulter two putted and shouted

in exaltation as the winner of the Houston Open. It was his first victory

since the 2012 HSBC Champions, and his first in the U.S since the 2010

Match Play at Dove Mountain.

After starting Thursday with a 73, Poulter was packed to head home to

Orlando on Friday. After a bounce back 64 in round 2, the desperate

42 year old shot 65 -67 to get the job done - realizing suddenly that he

had just accomplished the unthinkable. "Last week was painful," Poulter

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."

Jordan Spieth (66) tied for third with Emiliano Grillo (68) at 16 under par.

Scores: https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Bubba Watson Celebrates after winning the WGC Dell Match Play

Austin, Texas - Bubba Watson has found his groove just in time. After

capturing his tenth career PGA Tour victory earlier this year at Riviera,

Watson has begun his quest for a third Green Jacket at Augusta (and

a spot on Team USA for some matches over in France later this fall).

After defeating World No.2 Justin Thomas (who had an opportunity to

surpass Dustin Johnson in the Official World Golf Rankings with a win)

in the one of the semi-finals, he went on and routed Kevin Kisner in the

final 7&6.

Kisner looked completely spent before he even hit a shot in the match,

likely because his semi-final with Alex Noren was an epic back and forth

affair that was knotted after 18 holes. On the first extra hole, Noren

blinked first - botching an eagle putt from just off the green which led

to a 3 putt disaster. Kisner nailed his four footer for birdie and the win

to reach the final with Watson. Nothing went right for Kisner in the final,

Watson had him 7 down after ten holes.

Presently Bubba Watson has two golf goals, another run at a Green Jacket

and that match in France this fall. He made sure in his post round press

conference that the Ryder Cup Captain knew of his intentions "I hope Jim

Furyk is watching because I really want to play in France."

It's looking pretty certain that Bubba will be in France, the bigger question

is who will stop him from slipping on his third Green Jacket at Augusta

National.

Alex Noren went on to defeat Justin Thomas in the consolation match 3&2.

Scores:https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

March 18, 8:07 pm est

Rory celebrates at Bayhill after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Windermere, Florida - Sometimes it all clicks at once, for Rory McIlroy

this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it was the perfect storm.

(Full disclosure - last week I actually picked Rory in my Fantasy Golf

League after speaking with him at Innisbrook during his pre-tournament

press conference at the Valspar Championship, he just seemed primed

to win. As it turns out, I was a week early on my prognostication, but

honestly, I saw a breakthrough coming.) After birdieing 5 of the last 6

holes, McIlroy's final round 64 was good enough for a 3 shot margin of

victory at 18 under par on The King's firm and fast Bayhill layout.

It was a week where Rory, (who last won on the PGA Tour at East Lake

on Sept.25th, 2016 - the same day that Arnold Palmer passed away),

led the field in virtually every statistical category including putting. When

McIlroy drained his putt for birdie at the last, it was his 100th putt of

the week, by far his best putting performance total of his career. Just

last week in Jupiter at the Bear's Club, McIlroy worked with Brad Faxon

on the mental side of putting. Faxon suggested he be more reactionary

and not to get caught up in being so precise. As McIlroy said "It was

more of a realization that I don't need to be so perfect to make putts.

Hopefully this is the kick-start of something special."

"Honestly I thought if I shot 67, I would have had a good chance, and that

obviously would have been nearly good enough," McIlroy said. "I went out

with the mindset of being patient, I was even par thru 5 holes and four

behind Henrik at that point. I hit it into the bunker off the tee on 6, then

from there I played a perfect round of golf - I basically gave myself birdie

chances on every hole. I executed shots the way I wanted to when I needed

to, shooting 64 in those conditions out there with it being firm and fast,

to get in the winners circle again - it feels really good."

Bryson DeChambeau finished second at 15 under par (68). Justin Rose was

third at -14 (after a 69). 54 hole leader Henrik Stenson finished solo fourth

at 13 under par (71). Tiger Woods (69) after getting to within a shot of the

lead walking off the 15th green, struggled coming in - finishing tied for fifth

with Ryan Moore at -10.

Scores:

https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/arnold-palmer-invitational-presented-by-mastercard/leaderboard.html