Planet Golf — 09 September 2012 by GW staff and news services
Hanson wins one for his ill son

HILVERSUM, Netherlands — Emotions ran high for Peter Hanson on Sunday when he won for the first time in two years.

An eagle the final hole catapulted him to victory in the KLM Open, his fifth European Tour victory.

An emotional Hanson dedicated his victory to his young son, Tim, who turns 2 in November and was hospitalized on Friday with a severe respiratory problem. The Swede had been on the verge of withdrawing from the centenary event but doctors advised him that he would be better off remaining in the Netherlands.

“It has been an up and down week with my little son ill in hospital, so it just puts golf in to perspective. You also don’t think straight when a family may be ill, as they are the most important thing,” Hanson said. “I had been on the phone every hour to my wife, and she was the one convincing me to stay. But hopefully now when I get home to Orlando, Tim will be a little better and also out of hospital and back home.

“So in many ways this win is for Tim, and I am very much looking forward to seeing. But not getting too close at least until the virus has fully passed.”

Hanson holed a 35-footer on the final green Sunday for a final-round 67 to win by two strokes with a 14-under 266.

The victory is the fifth in succession for a member of the European Ryder Cup team on either the European Tour or PGA Tour since qualifying ended at the end of last month.

Paul Lawrie cemented his place in the Ryder Cup team with victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, while Sergio Garcia claimed the Wyndham Championship. Rory McIlroy then won for a third and fourth time this year on the PGA Tour in capturing the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship.

“I have been watching the golf from the States in the evenings and Lee (Westwood) is playing well, Rory (McIlroy) has been playing fantastic, Ian (Poulter) and Graeme (McDowell) and Sergio (Garcia) also winning has been good for the team,” said Hanson. “So it feels like the team is playing well and everyone is trying to peak for the Ryder Cup.”

Richie Ramsay, who tied for second on Sunday, will return to his Atlanta home later this week having finished second a week after winning in Switzerland. The 29-year old Scot, who will be married in less than two weeks, has risen to 17th on the Race to Dubai money list.

“A sixth in Scotland, a first last week in Switzerland, and now sharing second here in Holland is another great wedding present,” he said.

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