Sunday 1 April 2018 01:24, UK
Ian Poulter put himself in a strong position to secure a last-minute place in the Masters as he took a share of the lead after the third round of the Houston Open.
The 42-year-old Englishman will be heading to Augusta National next week if he can continue his fine form on Sunday and is able to wrap up the victory at the Golf Club of Houston.
Poulter, who looked out of contention after opening with a one-over 73, followed up Friday's 64 with a seven-under 65 on Saturday to move to 14-under 202 after 54 holes.
He was joined on 14 under late in the day by Beau Hossler after the American holed a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th for a three-under 69.
The pair are two shots clear of the remainder of the field but 21 players are within five shots and will still fancy their chances of mounting a title challenge on Sunday.
Poulter, whose last tournament victory came back in November 2012 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, started the day four shots behind halfway leader Hossler and continued his progress up the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth.
Another birdie double followed at the seventh and eighth and he rolled in an excellent 13-foot putt for his fifth birdie of the day at the 10th which took him to 12 under and into a seven-way tie for the lead at one stage.
Poulter finally broke out of the logjam at the top thanks to a birdie at the par-three 16th after a superb tee shot to seven feet, and he stretched his lead further at the 17th by curling in a 10-foot birdie putt.
"All the good golf that was out there yesterday, I've got to go back out there and back it up today," he said at the Sky Cart after completing his round.
"So be aggressive, be super aggressive to the pins that you can be. I did that bit very well today.
"The putter is continuing to warm up. I feel nice standing over putts. I've just opened my shoulders very slightly which made a difference yesterday and is continuing to help today.
"It's been a while to post two numbers like that and obviously I'm going to need to go and do another one tomorrow."
No player has won a PGA Tour event after being in 123rd place or worse after the first round, but Poulter, who was tied for 123rd after 18 holes, is hopeful he can extend his fine run after playing his last 41 holes in 16 under.
"I need to be aggressive," he added. "I need to continue to do what I'm doing. If I keep playing the golf I'm playing I'm going to give myself chances. But if I keep putting well then we could be in a nice situation tomorrow night."
Ireland's Paul Dunne is also firmly in contention heading into the final round after a 69 took him into a share of third place on 12 under.
Australian Greg Chalmers matched Poulter's 65 to sit alongside Dunne, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (67) and American Kevin Tway (69).
Henrik Stenson (69) and Matt Kuchar (69) are just three off the pace on 11 under, while Jordan Spieth (71) is within striking distance on 10 under.
Rickie Fowler led the field in the early stages of the round before slipping up with a double-bogey at the sixth, and a triple-bogey eighth at the 13th saw him sign for a 73 which dropped him to nine under, alongside Ireland's Shane Lowry (71) among others.
Justin Rose, playing in the same group as Poulter, could only manage a level-par 72, leaving him in a tie for 31st on seven under, while his fellow Englishman Lee Westwood tumbled down the field to one under following a four-over 76.
