FBR Open notebook: Mickelson has Super surprise for father, son

Phil Mickelson decided not to go to the Super Bowl on Sunday morning, which turned out to be a pretty good decision when he ended up in a playoff later in the day with J.B. Holmes.

Holmes beats Mickelson in FBR Open playoff

SLIDESHOW: See the final day at the FBR Open

Even though Mickelson ended up losing the FBR Open to Holmes when the “Kentucky Kid’’ holed a seven-foot birdie on the first playoff hole at the TPC Scottsdale, he came out a winner when he gave his Super Bowl tickets to Drew Fockler and his father, John.

“(Drew Fockler) was wearing a Callaway hat,’’ said Mickelson, who is under contract with Callaway. “I thought that it would be fun to give it to a father-son.

“I cherish the time I have with each one of my kids and I just thought it would be a cool experience for them. I wasn’t going to be able to use them because my family is in town and we’re all going to watch it together.’’

RECORD BREAKER

Even though Sunday’s crowd of 71,805 was not a record, the all-time mark for the week was established at 538,356.

That new standard was made possible by record crowds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the latter totaling 170,802. The previous weekly standard was set in 2006 when 536,767 fans turned out.

Tournament chairman Tim Louis said he was “thrilled’’ on several fronts.

“I feel like it was a huge accomplishment to do the numbers that we did,’’ Louis said. “And pretty much everything associated with the tournament went very well.

“I had a sense that the fan experience also was very good. I guess the thing I was most impressed with was that 170,000-some fans turned out on Saturday and everything went as smooth as it did.’’

COSTLY LIP-OUT

Charles Warren came within a lip-out birdie on the 17th hole of joining the playoff. The fifth-year pro from South Carolina, who birdied the 18th hole, ended up alone in third place with a 13-under 271, despite a final round 70.

“I thought I had read it right and I hit a good putt. I mean three feet out, it was exactly where I thought it needed to be,’’ said Warren, who started to raise his putter when he thought the 10-footer was in the hole.

“But all in all, I’m pleased. I learned a lot. I think I did fairly well considering the two or three really bad shots I hit.’’

CLOSE CALL

Sometime, back in his days at college at Kent State University, Ben Curtis learned a little first aid and CPR. He had to use it on Thursday on a fellow PGA Tour member.

Eating lunch just prior to his first round on Thursday, Curtis turned around to see Steve Allan choking. Curtis asked him if he needed help.

“He shook his head yes,” Curtis said.

So a calm Curtis performed the Heimlich maneuver. It was after Allan was OK that Curtis thought about the events long enough to get scared.

“He started spitting up pretty good so I stopped and asked him if he was OK,’’ Curtis said. “I think he was a little embarrassed.”

Allan was healthy enough to play, but missed the 36-hole cut. Curtis ended up towards the bottom of the board in a tie for 65th place, but he was a winner in the eyes of Allan.

BACKDOOR FINISH

Jeff Quinney, who led this tournament through much of the final two rounds a year ago, closed with back-to-back birdies for a 66 that vaulted him into 13th place.

“Yeah, I kind of backdoored it,’’ said the former Arizona State All-American, who rolled in a 30-footer from just off the green at No. 8 and holed a bunker shot at No. 9, his last two holes.

Last year, he said, he was “too focused.’’

“I wish I’d done more of that last year — looking around, smiling,’’ he said. “That’s the thing I’ve learned in the past year. When the pressure is on, you have to relax.’’