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BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan, Aug 11 (Reuters) Sergio Garcia played beautifully in pursuit of his first major title at the PGA Championship before wobbling over the brutal finishing holes at Oakland Hills to fall short once again.
It was a bitter blow for the 28-year-old Spaniard, who has had 14 top-10 finishes in the majors, adding his tie for second, two shots behind Irishman Padraig Harrington, to the list of near misses.
''I obviously played nicely. I shot 69-68 on a tough yesterday at a major,'' said Garcia, who had to play 36 holes after round was ashed out by thunderstorms.
''Unfortunately, I obviously came up a little bit short. But I guess that's the way things go sometimes. I gave it my best.'' Garcia held the lead until coming down the 16th when he fired at the pin and splashed his second shot into the pond guarding the green and made bogey to slip into a tie with Harrington and American Ben Curtis.
At the long par-three 17th, Garcia lipped out a four-foot birdie putt after Harrington rolled in his 10-footer and suddenly found himself trailing the Irishman, who had beaten him in a playoff to win the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie.
PLAYED WELL ''It was a three-man race and Padraig came out on top,'' said Garcia, who will move up from sixth to fourth place in the world rankings with his runner-up finish.
''There's guys that get a little bit fortunate, they get in contention in a major and manage to get things going their way, either because they play well or because somebody else comes back. And, unfortunately it hasn't happened to me,'' he said.
''I feel like I played well enough to win probably more than two majors throughout my career.'' Yesterday, it was the Spaniard who fell back under the relentless pressure applied by Harrington.
The Irishman made a series of crucial putts down the stretch, including a 15-footer at the 18th to seal a second successive majors triumph after defending his British Open crown last month at Royal Birkdale.
Curtis, the 2003 British Open winner, said he was certain Garcia would break through to claim a major championship.
''I think it's only a matter of time for Sergio,'' said the American, who shared second place with Garcia at one-under-par 279.
''Eventually he's just going to play well and win one. he's such a talented player, it's just a matter of time.''
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