Jacobsen Ends 6-Year Drought : Golf: He birdies final hole to avoid playoff with Scott Simpson and Brian Tennyson in Bob Hope Classic. Victory is Jacobsen’s first since 1984.

When the $1-million Bob Hope Chrysler Classic concluded Sunday, someone asked Peter Jacobsen to do an impersonation--of anyone.

Jacobsen, the Rich Little of the PGA Tour, who mimics the mannerisms of some of the game’s top players, was quick to answer.

“I’m doing an impersonation of a winner right here,” Jacobsen said.

And so he was.

Jacobsen, 35, who hadn’t won on the tour since 1984, birdied the last hole to win the tournament by one stroke over Scott Simpson and Brian Tennyson.

He had a 90-hole total of 339, while shooting a one-under-par 71 at the Palmer Course at PGA West.

By winning, Jacobsen earned a check for $180,000 and received a measure of confidence in a career he seriously considered abandoning because of painful back problems a few years ago.

Jacobsen led by two shots going into the final round, and, although he never relinquished his lead, Tennyson and Simpson gave him some anxious moments.

Tennyson, who shot a six-under-par 66, birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to catch Jacobsen at 20 under par. Playing three groups ahead of Jacobsen, he then waited hopefully for a possible playoff.

Simpson, the 1987 U.S. Open champion, was one group ahead of Jacobsen. He birdied the par five, 18th hole to momentarily tie Jacobsen.

Then Jacobsen came to the 18th tee, expecting to birdie the hole, which he did.

“I was very excited when I saw that the tees were up on the 18th hole and I knew I could reach the green in two,” Jacobsen said.

The hole can measure as long as 540 yards, but the yardage was reduced by about 25 yards.

“I hit a good solid drive down the right and I had 205 yards to the front of the green,” Jacobsen said.

Then, Jacobsen used a three-iron for what he said was a Lee Trevino shot, a slight slice landing on the fringe 30 feet below the hole.

He then two-putted for his victory, estimating his last putt at a foot-and-a-half.

“I’ve been playing well for six to eight months and I knew I was going to win,” Jacobsen said. “But I can’t tell you how difficult it is when they put the pins where they did. I wanted to play a more conservative game today.”

It was only Jacobsen’s fourth tour victory in a career that began in 1976 and he said this one was the sweetest of them all because he’s had a long dry spell.

Jacobsen was aware that Tennyson had caught him at No. 16. “All of a sudden it kicked in that I wasn’t leading anymore and I had to birdie,” Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen said he dedicated his win to his younger brother, Paul, who died two years ago at 32, and had been admitted to the Betty Ford center here for drug related problems.

“The last round I played with Paul was here at the Palmer course when he was at the center,” Jacobsen. “So there’s special meaning down here for me now.”

Jacobsen said the victory was also meaningful because he has so many friends in the desert.

“I have what I call my ‘Pasadena Mafia,’ ” he said. “They come down from Pasadena and watch me play and live and die with every shot. I’m glad I could finally pull through for them.”

Jacobsen, who had a ruptured disk, said he’s now conscientious about his stretching exercises and that’s why he’s competitive again.

He has said that golf is a game that you rent for a while, but don’t own it, unless you’re Jack Nicklaus in his prime.

“I felt it was my turn today,” Jacobsen said. “The others were firing and falling back a little and I was just hanging right there.”

Simpson, who shot a 68 and applied some pressure to the winner, said he was disappointed that he didn’t win, but added that he was happy for Jacobsen.

“I’m happy that he’s back in the winner’s circle,” adding that he and Jacobsen have been friendly competitors since college.

“Peter and I had battled for the Pac-8 championship in 1975 when I was at USC and he was at Oregon,” Simpson said.

Simpson added that he won that year.

Tennyson, 27, who got through qualifying school in 1987, said his performance Sunday was the best since he has been on the tour.

He had six birdies in his round, but he knew that he had to get another one at the 18th hole because he was sure that Jacobsen would birdie the hole.

However, his one-iron second shot found a bunker. He blast almost went in--it brushed the cup and rolled another four feet. But he missed the putt, as the ball hit the lip and missed to the left. He got his par, when, as it turned out, he needed a birdie.

“It was certainly one you should make,” Tennyson said of his birdie putt.

So he had to settle for a second place tie with Simpson, each earning $88,000.

Mike Reid, who was only two shots behind Jacobsen after 72 holes, faltered Sunday with a five-over-par 77.

Australia’s Steve Elkington, playing in the final group, with Jacobsen and Reid, had a 73. He was only three shots off the lead after four rounds.

Tom Kite, who started the day four shots behind Jacobsen, stayed in contention until the par three, 159-yard 15th hole.

His tee shot landed in the brush and he had an unplayable lie. After taking a drop, he scrambled to get a bogey. Nonetheless, he dropped two strokes behind Jacobsen at the time.

Kite, who had a 69, finished in a tie for fourth with Tim Simpson and Ted Schulz at 341.