Ian Poulter’s Masters fate out of his hands after losing to Scottie Scheffler

Ian Poulter’s hopes of qualifying for the Masters suffered a potentially fatal blow as he lost his opening group game in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Poulter needs to reach at least the quarter-finals to climb into the world’s top 50 on Monday and avoid missing out on a trip to Augusta National for just the third time since making his debut in 2004.

However, the Ryder Cup star’s fate is now out of his hands after he lost 2 and 1 to world number five Scottie Scheffler at Austin Country Club.

Even if Poulter wins his remaining two games against fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, Scheffler would advance to the knockout stages by beating the same two players.

Fitzpatrick edged out Fleetwood on the 18th on Wednesday but Lee Westwood lost 3 and 2 to Talor Gooch while Richard Bland halved his eagerly-anticipated match with Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau’s return to action after a six-week injury lay-off began in eventful fashion as his wayward opening drive finished up inside a first-aid tent and the former US Open champion also shanked his second shot on the next.

However, Bland – making his tournament debut at the age of 49 – was unable to take advantage of DeChambeau’s struggles and never led at any stage of a scrappy contest which saw the last eight holes halved, only one of them with matching birdies.

“Bryson was probably a bit rusty and it was never going to be pretty golf,” Bland  said. “So I think a half was probably right.”

The half point at least kept Bland’s hopes of qualifying for the Masters alive, while Ireland’s Seamus Power took a major step towards making his debut in the year’s first major with a 5 and 4 victory over Sungjae Im.

Power (48th) began the week inside the all-important