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LOS ANGELES — Charles Howell III said he felt his heart leap when he realized a mere 3 feet of green stood between him and an improbable playoff victory over Phil Mickelson in the Nissan Open.

That's when Howell said a silent prayer.

Howell had gone almost 4 ½ years and nine runner-up finishes since his lone PGA Tour victory. At almost every turn Sunday, he was confronted with so many of his past failures — all the putts he missed, the 10th hole at Riviera Country Club that denied him victory in 2003, a chip that cost him last month in Honolulu.

Howell erased those memories with three clutch pars in the playoff, the last one on a solid chip to 3 feet and a putt that felt more like a mile.