J.B. Holmes hits his drive on the 18th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship. Holmes shot a 2-under-par 68 at Oakland Hills Country Club on Friday in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Bloomfield Township, Mich. ? J.B. Holmes and his monster length turned out to be a good fit for Oakland Hills.

With a black glove on his hand and a scowl on his face, Holmes hammered one tee shot after another Friday and kept most of them in the short grass, leading to a 2-under 68 for a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the PGA Championship.

Holmes was at 1-under 139, the only player to break par over two rounds on a course known as “The Monster.” It was the first time since 1972 – at Oakland Hills, not so coincidentally – that only one player was under par through 36 holes of the PGA Championship.

“When I hit my driver like I did today, this is an easy sport,” Holmes said.

It sure didn’t feel easy to anyone else.

Sergio Garcia four-putted the 17th green late in the second round just as he was trying to catch Holmes and instead dropped to a 73 and was three shots behind. Phil Mickelson struggled with a few bad drives, a few poor chips and not many putts, making three bogeys over the final five holes for a 73 that left him four shots behind.

Colin Montgomerie found nothing easy about Oakland Hills. He had to play his best golf over the closing holes to avoid his worst score as a professional, salvaging an 84 to match his worst score ever in a major.

Ben Curtis, who Thursday said only one player would like Oakland Hills by the end of the week, got along just fine Friday with a 67, matching Justin Rose with the best score of the tournament and leaving both of them one shot behind at even-par 140.

They were joined by Charlie Wi, a 36-year-old who has played on just about every tour, but never in a major championship until this week. He made his debut with back-to-back 70s and will play in the final group Saturday with Holmes.

Former PGA champion David Toms (69) and Henrik Stenson of Sweden (70) were at 1-over 141. The group at 142 included Garcia, former U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera (72) and Sean O’Hair.