Mickelson wins BellSouth Classic

FINAL LEADERBOARD US unless stated -8 P Mickelson*, B Jobe, JM Olazabal (Sp), R Beem, A Atwal (Ind) -7 T Ridings, F Lickliter II, S Dunlap, A Oberholser -6 J Williamson, H Haas, D Paulson, L Glover, C Warren (After 54 holes) *Wins after 4th play-off hole

Phil Mickelson warmed up for the Masters with a play-off victory at the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Georgia.

Mickelson won the rain-affected tournament at the fourth play-off hole, sinking a 13-foot birdie.

The Masters champion tied with Jose Maria Olazabal, Rich Beem, Brandt Jobe and Arjun Atwal at an eight-under 208 after the shortened 54-hole tournament.

Olazabal could have won the tournament in regulation but missed a five-foot birdie on the par-five 18th.

Jobe and Arjun were eliminated on the first play-off hole and Olazabal at the third - after missing a three-foot putt to win at the first extra hole - before Mickelson finally saw off the challenge of Beem.

Afterwards a relieved Mickelson said: "There were probably six-to-10 people who could have won this tournament.

"I don't know how I dodged the bullet but I'm looking forward to the Masters."

I enjoy being able to play closer to the start of the Masters on Thursday Phil Mickelson

But Olazabal was left to rue his missed opportunity: "I had a chance to win it and didn't. Had a second chance and missed it."

The 39-year-old Spaniard lost his US tour card last season and was playing on a sponsor's invitation.

Had he sunk either of the two putts he had for victory, the two-time Masters champion would not just be back as a full-time member, but have an exemption until the end of 2007.

Atwal scored 64 - the best score of the week - in the final round after only coming into the tournament on Friday afternoon when the second successive day was washed out and Steve Flesch withdrew to prepare for the Masters.

Mickelson, who has now won three times already this year, had planned to take Monday off ahead of the defence of his Masters' title.

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But he insisted he was delighted to be involved despite Monday's late finish.

"I enjoy being able to play a competitive round closer to the start of the Masters on Thursday," he said.

"I have only two days in between now, as opposed to 10 or 11 if I had skipped this event."

"I love playing the week before a major, I love the fact that we are playing Monday and I love how this tournament has set the course up as close to Augusta as possible.

"The greens are the same, the areas around the green are the same. I think it's a great place to start hitting the shots that I will need to hit at the Masters."