Austin, TX ….

Ian Poulter was doublly displeased first in being advised he had qualified for next fortnight’s Masters ahead of being bundled out of the semi-final of the WGC – Dell Technologies Match-Play.

Poulter had defeated former Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen in a Saturday morning fourth round encounter and then had just over an hour before heading out to tackle American Kevin Kisner in a semi-final showdown on the Austin Country Club course.

During his short turnaround time, Poulter was advised by journalists he had done enough to break back into the world’s top-50 and be assured of returning to next fortnight’s Masters.

This website, however, had reported yesterday that Poulter rightly needed to defeat the winner of the Kisner and Matt Kurchar match to be assured of a Masters invitation.

In fact, Poulter had moved from No. 64 in the world to No. 51 at the time of winning against Oosthuizen and after losing to Kisner, the Englishman is now projected to advance to around No. 53 in the world and thus now needing to win next week’s Houston Open, and if he now tees-up, to secure the last place into the year’s first Major.

“I guess I should never listen to other people,” he said. “When you finish a round of golf and the press and everybody telling you you’re in the Masters, and then you get a text message 10 minutes before you tee off to correct everybody, to say, oh, we’ve made a mistake, actually, no, that was wrong, you’re not in. You need to go and win. Not that that’s an excuse or any form or factor, it’s a little disappointing,” he said.

“I asked three times, four times, are you sure, are you sure, are you sure? Yeah, you’re definitely in. No, I’m not definitely in.

“So next time I won’t listen to other people. I’ll do my bit and focus better.”

Though Poulter was not laying the blame on his loss to wrong advice and with the 33-year old Kisner never letting Pouler into the match racing to 6-up at the turn and then winning 8 & 6 when Poulter conceeded the 12th hole.

It was the biggest margin of victory in this year’s $10m and Poulter’s largest defeat in 40 matches for the now 42-year old who won in 2010.

“I mean I can’t put that down as an excuse,” he said.

“It would be an excuse if I said it. So, it’s disappointing to be given the wrong information, but that’s — that wasn’t any part of this afternoon.

“Also I don’t know yet about Houston as I haven’t decided. I’m tired. It’s been a long week. It’s been a draining week. I don’t know.

“I’ll wait until Monday night and if I have the energy then I will.”