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Holmes rallies to win FBR Open for a second time

US golfer J.B Holmes hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the FBR Open on Sunday at TPC of Scottsdale in Scottdsdale, Arizona. PHOTO: AFP

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

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

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

But the 25-year-old Holmes smashed a 350-yard drive that landed near a fence far left of the fairway. He was permitted 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.

Holmes' playoff tee shot went straight and deep down the fairway. His 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 US$1.08 million.

It was the first playoff in the event since Mickelson beat Justin Leonard in a playoff in 1996.

With the National Football League title game being staged only 50km away in Glendale on Sunday, attendance dropped to 71,805 on a chilly, overcast day. That's nearly 100,000 fewer than the record 170,802 who came on Saturday for the biggest party day of the boisterous event.
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