Ian Poulter lost command of the Honda Classic with two swings on consecutive tee shots in a wild final hour of golf on Sunday.
When the players entered the clubhouse early in their final round, Poulter had a share of the lead with Paul Casey heading into a sprint-to-the-finish at soggy PGA National.
Poulter was practically flawless in the rain-delayed third round Sunday morning for a 4-under 66 that gave him a three-shot lead over Patrick Reed (70) and Padraig Harrington (71). It was the first time Poulter has had a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
The third round was washed out Saturday because of nearly five inches of rain that toppled a few trees, flooded bunkers and even created mounds of air bubbles on one green. After the third round ended Sunday, the players went right back out to play as many holes of the final round as the sun would allow.
Poulter kept his distance until a shank on the par-3 fifth hole, which has water guarding the left side of the green. His ball went so far right that it found water on the sixth hole, leading to double bogey.
On his next tee shot, Poulter pulled it into the water and had to two-putt from 65 feet to escape with bogey. Just like that, his lead was gone. And then he got it back on the par-3 seventh just as Casey was polishing off a 31 on the front nine to join him at seven-under par.
The third round was suspended by darkness with Poulter on the eighth tee and Casey in the left rough on No. 10.
Poulter's blunder not only left him tied, it expanded the possibilities.
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