Holmes hits a tree and just can't recover

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - J.B. Holmes flopped in the final round of the PGA Championship, collapsing from second to 29th.

It all started under a tree.

Holmes' first tee shot on Sunday afternoon went near the base of a fir tree. He attempted to punch the ball back to the fairway with his 3-wood, but it barely moved and stayed within the boughs of the low-hanging evergreen.

After taking a one-shot penalty, he chipped out to the fairway and ended up two-putting for a triple-bogey 7.

Holmes didn't regret not taking the penalty right away.

"It wouldn't have gotten me out of the tree," he said. "I could have taken the line of the shot, but that would have put me in the stands. Or, I could have gone back to the tee. I had to go in there and try to hit something. I tried to hit a 3-wood and I didn't get it out."

The long-hitting 26-year-old American, dreaming of a spot on Ryder Cup team, couldn't get it back together.

"Everything that could go wrong did go wrong," he said. "It was my first time in the last group in a major and I don't think it will be my last time."

Holmes was 6 over through five holes and finished the forgettable round with nine bogeys, a double and the triple in an 11-over 81 to finish at 290, 13 shots behind winner Padraig Harrington.

But U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger said Holmes shouldn't give up hope for playing next month at home against Europe.

"I'm disappointed for J.B. Holmes, but he's still on my radar," Azinger said.