JB Holmes birdied the 18th hole twice in 20 minutes to defy Phil Mickelson in a play-off and win the FBR Open for the second time in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Looking for his first victory since winning the same event as a rookie in 2006, Holmes birdied 18 to force a play-off - and then holed a six-footer for birdie on the first play-off hole to record only his second PGA Tour title.

Holmes had a three-shot lead midway through the final round but needed a birdie on the final hole of regulation to finish at 14 under.

Mickelson's three-wood left him 137 yards from the hole in the play-off - while Holmes drove to only 73 yards short. After the approaches, Mickelson slid his long putt past the hole - and Holmes sunk his for victory.

Mickelson started the day four shots back and caught Holmes with a four-under 67. Holmes had four birdies and four bogeys for a 71.

Holmes becomes the first player to win the same event for his first two victories on the tour since Vaughn Taylor won the Reno Tahoe Open in 2004 and 2005.

Holmes reflected with satisfaction on his hard-fought success.

"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.''

Mickelson was full of praise for his conqueror.

"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 to get in the play-off. That's pretty impressive golf,'' he said.

"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.''

Collated final-round scores & totals (USA unless stated, par 71):

270 J.B. Holmes 68 65 66 71 (J.B. Holmes won at first play-off hole), Phil Mickelson 68 68 67 67

271 Charles Warren 65 69 67 70

272 Kevin Na (USA) 69 67 67 69, Ben Crane 70 65 67 70, Kevin Sutherland 65 72 66 69, Steve Elkington (Aus) 69 66 70 67, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 69 66 71 66

273 Bill Haas 67 68 69 69, Boo Weekley 68 69 69 67, Brandt Snedeker 67 69 67 70, Mark Wilson 68 69 68 68

274 Charlie Wi (Kor) 66 71 67 70, Briny Baird 71 64 74 65, Jonathan Byrd 69 64 68 73, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 65 68 72

275 Kenny Perry 67 66 71 71, Jeff Quinney 69 71 69 66, Brian Gay 66 71 69 69

276 Mark Calcavecchia 70 70 64 72, KJ Choi (Kor) 68 68 74 66, Rich Beem 66 72 66 72, Tom Pernice Jnr 70 70 65 71, Jason Day (Aus) 71 68 70 67

277 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 71 66 72 68, Jeff Overton 69 71 66 71, Robert Allenby (Aus) 68 67 71 71, Todd Hamilton 70 68 68 71, Charles Howell III 67 68 72 70

278 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 68 72 68 70, Anthony Kim 69 70 69 70, John Rollins 69 68 70 71, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 69 68 72

279 Nick Watney 71 66 71 71, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 68 70 70 71, Woody Austin 68 70 71 70, Tommy Armour III 67 69 70 73, Stephen Marino 73 66 69 71, Jon Mills (Can) 70 70 69 70, Camilo Villegas (Col) 66 67 73 73, Frank Lickliter II 69 65 71 74, Jason Gore 71 65 69 74

280 Pat Perez 69 65 75 71, Justin Leonard 70 67 66 77, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 69 67 67 77, John Senden (Aus) 68 69 74 69, Billy Mayfair 72 68 70 70, Mike Weir (Can) 70 68 70 72, Cliff Kresge 71 67 67 75

281 Nathan Green (Aus) 70 70 74 67, Sean O'Hair 69 70 68 74, Ted Purdy 70 70 72 69, Rocco Mediate 70 69 70 72

282 Chris DiMarco 68 70 71 73, Cameron Beckman 69 70 69 74, Troy Matteson 68 72 73 69, Fred Funk 69 70 68 75

283 J J Henry 68 71 73 71, Michael Allen 67 71 72 73, Lucas Glover 68 69 74 72, Jay Williamson 69 68 72 74, Tom Lehman 69 69 71 74, Douglas Labelle 69 64 75 75, Chez Reavie 69 70 72 72

284 Craig Barlow 70 70 75 69, Eric Axley 68 70 74 72, Ben Curtis 73 67 73 71

285 Joe Durant 73 66 70 76

286 John Mallinger 71 69 72 74