Holmes holds off Mickelson

Holmes: Play-off success

It's disappointing because this tournament has got a special place in my heart, and I love playing here, but I'm happy for JB - I think he's a credit and a talent for American golf.

Phil Mickelson
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JB Holmes defeated Phil Mickelson in a play-off to win the FBR Open for the second time in his career.

The 25-year-old birdied the 18th for the second time in a matter of minutes to see off the challenge of the world number two at the first extra hole.

Holmes, who had held a three-shot lead midway through the final round, had already sunk a 13-foot putt on the same green to finish on 14-under.

Mickelson had ended on the same score after a four-under 67, including three birdies in his final six holes, moved him up the leaderboard.

Long putt

The leftie drove well short of the green at the start of the play-off and then went on to miss a long putt for a three.

In contrast, Holmes hit a massive drive and holed a six-footer to take the title that he had also won back in his rookie year of 2006.

"I didn't have my best stuff today, but I fought and I hung in there and I made it when I needed to," he said.

"I came through and I won. I didn't give up. I played hard and when I needed to make it, I did."

The Kentuckian becomes the first man to succeed in the same event for his first two wins on the PGA tour since Vaughn Taylor won the Reno Tahoe Open back in 2004 and 2005.

Mickelson now has a 7-3 record in play-offs, and, in addition to his 32 Tour victories, he has now finished second 21 times.

Impressive

"Starting the day I would have gladly taken getting into a play-off, but I've got to give JB a lot of credit for birdieing the last hole and birdieing again in the play-off," he said. "That's pretty impressive golf.

"It's disappointing because this tournament has got a special place in my heart, and I love playing here, but I'm happy for JB - I think he's a credit and a talent for American golf."

Charles Warren finished on his own in third on 13-under with Australians Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington amongst a group of five players a further shot adrift.

Fredrik Jacobson - who went round in 68 - was the leading European on seven under, one shot ahead of Welshman Richard Johnson.