Garcia stays in title hunt at Oakland Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Sergio Garcia shrugged off a late double-bogey to stay in the title hunt for the U.S. PGA Championship in sapping conditions on Friday.

The 28-year-old Spaniard, bidding for his first major victory, carded a three-over-par 73 to end the second round three strokes behind pace-setting American J.B. Holmes.

"I feel like I'm still in good shape," Garcia told reporters after posting a two-over aggregate of 142 on the tough Oakland Hills Country Club layout. "This tournament is not going to be won at one under par.

"I just need to make sure that I stay around where I am, maybe a little closer to par if I can, and I'm sure that will have a chance on Sunday."

Garcia, regarded by his peers as one of the best in the game from tee to green, flirted with the lead for much of the day before four-putting for a double-bogey at the par-three 17th.

"I hit a good shot, probably two yards farther left than I needed to, that just caught the slope to the left," he said of his tee shot.

"I had a long putt, up and over and left to right from probably about 50 feet and hit it just a little too soft. I hit it about six feet short."

From there, Garcia narrowly missed his par putt and also his bogey attempt from two feet.

"I hit it inside right and it broke almost a cup and lipped out on the left side," he said of his third putt. "That was pretty much about it."

Although several players in the PGA Championship field this week have complained about the unfairness of the course set-up, Garcia disagreed.

"We know it's tough but it is playable," the Spanish world number six said after a round that also featured two birdies and three bogeys. "There are guys that are shooting three under par and two under par and around even par.

"Obviously it's a tough major and we know that. It's a hard course and it's very difficult. This is a major and it's not supposed to be easy."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)