Ian Poulter was reunited with his most famous putter as he boosted his hopes of qualifying for the Masters with victory over Tommy Fleetwood at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Poulter needs to reach the last eight in Austin to have any hope of breaking into the world’s top 50 on Monday and secure a place in the field at Augusta National, and he made a fine start with a 3&2 win over his fellow Englishman.
The Ryder Cup legend revealed earlier this week that he had dusted off the putter he used to memorable effect at Medinah in 2012, when he ignited Europe’s fightback with five birdies over the last five holes on day two to propel himself and Rory McIlroy to a priceless fourballs win.
Poulter admitted he did not hole as many putts as he would have liked on the greens in Austin, but he made enough to beat the European No 1 with two holes to spare on the opening day as he bids to emulate Rory McIlroy’s return to form with the putter at Bay Hill last week.
“Winning match play is always really pleasing,” said Poulter, who takes on Daniel Berger on Thursday and Kevin Chappell on Friday in a tough Group 9. “Tommy is a great player, but I don’t think either of us really holed any putts. I think I probably played just a little better than he did and obviously got it done.
“I’m happy with the win. A little practice with this putter, it needs to kick in, needs to warm up a little bit. But Rory turned it around last week and his putting stats were pretty incredible. It was a turnaround for doing something very simple.
“I’m trying to do something simple by putting something back in my hands which I know has got a decent track record. I know at times I’ve holed great putts with it, so hopefully I can get the juices going enough to hole a few more putts and have a real solid week here.”
If Poulter does not manage to earn qualification for the Masters this week, he hinted he would play in Houston next week where a victory would earn him the final place on offer at Augusta.
“I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve ever played, and the stats are proving that,” added the 2010 Match Play champion. “I’m driving it well, putting it in position, hitting a lot of greens in regulation, so I feel like I’m really close to something good.
“That’s why I want to make it to the Masters. I’m driving it a little bit longer than I have in the past, which is very helpful around that golf course, and hitting lots of greens in regulation is also helpful.
“So again, it comes down to the wand. If I can warm that thing up and play well for the next three days, four days, five, I’ll have a chance to obviously make it there. If I don’t do it this week, then I might look to try to do something in Houston next week.”
