SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — J.B. Holmes failed to birdie the 18th hole in the first three rounds of the FBR Open. Then he did it twice Sunday, coming back from the brink of defeat to steal a victory from one of the biggest names in golf.
Holmes’ 13-foot birdie putt forced a playoff with Phil Mickelson, then minutes later he sank an 8-footer after a monster, 359-yard drive to win the tournament for the second time in three years.
“I can play under pressure, I guess,” he said.
Holmes, whose victory as a rookie at the FBR in 2006 is his only other PGA Tour win, had blown 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 33rd of his career.
But the 25-year-old Holmes smashed his long drive that landed near a fence far left of the fairway. He was given 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-par 270 and forced the playoff with Mickelson.
Holmes’ playoff tee shot went straight and deep down the fairway. He walked away from the drive like Barry Bonds after a home run.
“I smoked it,” Holmes said. “I thought it went farther than it did.”
Webb wins in playoff.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Karrie Webb won her fourth Women’s Australian Open title by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff against South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai.
The Associated Press
