HUMBLE, Texas — The Masters was always on D.A. Points’ mind, even with the start of his year going nowhere.

He took care of that with one clutch putt.

Points sank a 13-footer to save par on the 72nd hole Sunday, winning the rain-delayed Houston Open by one stroke over Henrik Stenson and Billy Horschel.

Points’ only other victory came with actor Bill Murray at his side at Pebble Beach in 2011. This one earned him an invitation to the Masters in two weeks and a two-year exemption, unexpected bonuses after missing seven cuts in his first nine starts this year.

“I never doubt that I can do it,” Points said. “I certainly get down and frustrated when I make two of nine cuts. That’s not making you feel real great about yourself.”

No matter how he played in Houston, he was planning to play in next week’s Texas Open, too. Now, at least he won’t have to worry about winning there.

“I never thought that I wasn’t going to make it (to Augusta),” Points said. “I just thought this is an opportunity, just like next week.”

Desperate to change his luck before Houston, he brought along an old putter he once borrowed from his mother that’s been sitting in his garage since about 2005. He hardly missed with it in an opening 64 and then sank the biggest putt of his career on Sunday.

“I think mom is just fine with me having it,” he said.

But it was more than just the putter that worked this week. Fellow touring pro Chris Stroud set up a putting lesson for Points on Wednesday morning with Brian White, the golf coach at nearby Lamar, where Stroud played. White rescheduled a flight to meet with Points and got him to change his point of impact.

“The things he was saying, at first, I wasn’t in love with,” Points said.