Howell closed with a 6-under 65 and got into a playoff when Mickelson bogeyed the 18th hole. Howell put away the two-time Masters champion with his third straight par save, holing a 3-foot putt on the 14th hole and raising his head to the sky in utter relief.

''I said a prayer before I hit the putt,'' Howell said, his voice cracking. ''I said, 'It's time. Go in.' ''

It was only the second victory of his career, and Howell had been haunted by nine runner-up finishes since winning the now-defunct Michelob Championship in the fall of 2002. He already had two runner-up finishes in four starts this year, including three weeks ago against Tiger Woods down the coast at Torrey Pines.

Mickelson, bidding for his second straight victory, had control throughout the playoff until coming up short of the green on the par-3 14th. He opted for putter, but it took a high hop leaving the blade and stopped 10 feet short. The par putt missed to the right.

Howell also was short, but his chip came out nicely just beyond the cup.

''I had every chance on the back nine to create some separation and not give anyone a chance,'' said Mickelson, who twice missed putts inside 4 feet and closed with a 68. ''I felt like I had the tournament in my grasp and let it go.''

They finished at 16-under 268.

Ernie Els (67), Jim Furyk (67) and Robert Allenby (68) tied for third, three shots out of the playoff.

Els and Allenby both had chances to catch Mickelson along the back nine of a mostly sunny afternoon, but the Big Easy was tripped up by three bogeys, while Allenby fell back with a three-putt from 60 feet on the fringe at the 15th.

Howell earned $936,000 and is atop the PGA Tour money list for the first time in his career. Aside from finally getting his hands on another trophy, Howell accomplished his first goal of 2007. The victory all but assures he can return to the Masters in April because the Augusta native will climb into the top 25 in the world rankings.

Along the way, he exorcised a few demons.

It was four years ago at Riviera where Howell lost a three-shot lead, then missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole and lost to Draper resident Mike Weir. This time, he got past No. 10 in the playoff with an unlikely par. He clipped the trees when he tried to chip off the cart path, then got up-and-down from about 80 feet for par with a superb chip with just the right pace.

And while putting has been his nemesis during his drought, he holed one big putt after another - from 8 feet for par on the 18th in regulation to keep the heat on Mickelson, from 6 feet for par on the 18th to extend the playoff, and the 3-footer on 14 that must have looked like a mile.

''It's been a long time,'' Howell said. ''I'm speechless.''

Asked which was more meaningful, the Nissan Open or '02 at Kingsmill, the 27-year-old didn't hesitate.

''This one,'' he said. ''Because of the five-year gap between them. It's been a long, long time since I won a title.''

Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

Tom Watson won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Lutz, Fla., for his first professional victory in Florida, closing with a 1-under 70 in cold and windy conditions for a one-stroke margin over Jay Haas and Andy Bean.

The round was played in temperatures reaching the low 40s, with 30 mph gusts.

Watson, the five-time British Open champion who entered the week 0-for-93 as a pro in Florida, finished at 4-under 209 and earned $240,000 for his ninth career Champions Tour title. Haas shot a 69, and Bean closed with a 72.

Leaders

x-won on third hole of playoff

x-Charles Howell III -16

Phil Mickelson -16

Ernie Els -13

Robert Allenby -13

Jim Furyk -13

Sergio Garcia -11

Padraig Harrington -10

Also

Mike Weir -5

Vijay Singh -4