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Mickelson successful in quest for a 2nd PGA majors win

When Phil Mickelson realized a birdie on the par-5 final hole at Baltusrol would allow him to win the PGA Championship and validate him as a major force in golf, his spirits soared.

Then he reached out for an extra bit of luck he didn`t need. Just 10 yards beyond his ball in the middle of the fairway was a stone plaque to commemorate the 1-iron Jack Nicklaus hit into the 18th green when he won the 1967 U.S. Open. Mickelson reached out with his 3-wood and tapped it twice.

"A little touch for some good karma," he said.

Mickelson delivered another dramatic finish to his second major title Monday, flopping a chip from the deep grass some 50 feet from the cup for a tap-in birdie that gave him a one-shot victory over Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjorn. Ultimately, he might do Nicklaus a favor as a threat to Tiger Woods` pursuit of the Golden Bear`s record 18 major titles.