Holmes wins in playoff

J.B. Holmes came back from the brink of defeat to win the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the second time in three years, beating Phil Mickelson on the first hole of a playoff.

Holmes birdied the 18th twice in a matter of minutes, first with a 13-foot putt to force the playoff, then with an 8-footer after a monster, 359-yard drive.

"I can play under pressure, I guess," Holmes said.

Holmes, whose victory as a rookie at the FBR in 2006 is his only other PGA Tour win, had blown a 4-stroke lead and was 1 shot behind going in to the 18th. The far more seasoned Mickelson seemed destined for his third victory in the tournament and 33rd of his career.

But the 25-year-old Kentuckian smashed a 350-yard drive that landed near a fence far left of the fairway. He was awarded a drop, then hit his second shot out of the rough 13 feet from the pin to set up the putt that put him at 14-under 270 and forced the playoff with Mickelson.

"I smoked it," Holmes said. "I thought it went farther than it did."

Holmes' playoff tee shot went straight and deep down the fairway. He walked away from the drive like Barry Bonds after a home run. Holmes second shot came to rest just 8 feet from victory.

Mickelson, who birdied three of the final six holes of regulation, just missed a 28-foot birdie putt before Holmes made the winner. The victory was worth $1.08 million.

"Starting the day, I would have gladly taken getting into a playoff," Mickelson said, "but I've got to give J.B. a lot of credit for birdieing the last hole and birdieing again to get in the playoff. That's pretty impressive golf."

It was the first playoff in the event since Mickelson beat Justin Leonard in a three-hole playoff in 1996. That, coincidentally, was the other weekend that the Super Bowl was held in Arizona.

Women's Australian Open: Australian star Karrie Webb won her fourth Women's Australian Open title, beating South Korea's Shin Ji-yai with a 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole in Melbourne, Australia.