Golfer Hanson overcomes child trauma to win Dutch event
updated 4:41 PM EDT, Sun September 9, 2012
Peter Hanson celebrates after holing his eagle putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the KLM Open on Sunday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Peter Hanson wins European Tour event despite concerns about the health of his son
- The one-year-old was being treated in a Florida hospital for a potentially dangerous virus
- Hanson holes a long eagle putt at the final hole to win Dutch event by two shots
- It was the Ryder Cup player's first victory this year and his fifth on the European Tour
(CNN) -- With his baby boy dangerously ill and several hours' flight away, Peter Hanson was not in the best frame of mind to be playing a golf tournament.
Should he go back to the U.S. or stay in Europe and take the risk of further complications for one-year-old Tim, who was being treated for a respiratory virus at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida?
Assured by his wife that there was nothing he could do to help, the Swede remained in the Netherlands and pulled off an emotional victory with a sensational shot at the final hole of the KLM Open on Sunday.
"When he was put into hospital on Friday, I was panicking. He was not good for 12 to 14 hours there and as a parent that makes you feel very vulnerable," the 34-year-old told the European Tour website.
"I just wanted to go back home and look after the family, but my wife convinced me to stay. They were in good hands; there was nothing I could do and she was telling me that, but when your kids get sick you don't think straight."
Is Olazabal ready for Ryder Cup?
What can Ryder Cup golfers expect?
Luke Donald shares his best chip shots
Chinese golfers prepare for Rio
However, he held it together enough to sink a huge eagle putt on the final hole to win his fifth European Tour title by two shots from Spain's Pablo Larrazabal and Scotland's Richie Ramsay at the Hilversumsche course.
"It's always a nice feeling, but especially this week with how things have been with my son being a little bit ill," said Hanson, who will play for Europe against the U.S. at the Ryder Cup this month.
"He has managed to get over that and he's getting better and better, which is the most important thing."
Hanson, who also has membership of the PGA Tour this season, had looked like missing out when, trailing Larrazabal by one shot, he drove into the trees at the 16th hole.
"I had a little gap between the two trees and I needed to hit it through that with a bit of draw. Sometimes you have to take a chance and a risk and luckily it was my day," said Hanson, who pocketed the $380,000 first prize to be eighth in the Race To Dubai standings.
"When we get a chance to lift these trophies, something just clicks in your head. I was just trying to stay focused.
"This was needed. It's been a bit of a slow summer for me, so this came at a perfect time to get confidence back and feel ready for the Ryder Cup."
Ramsay birdied three of the last four holes to match Hanson's final-round score of 67, but was just short of repeating his victory at last week's European Masters in Switzerland.
"On the last hole I was thinking I could hole my eagle putt and have a little run around the green but he got in first," he said after taking home $200,000 to go 17th in the money list with almost $1.2 million this season.
"It didn't happen for me this week but I'm proud that I gave it a go. The last three weeks have been great. Sixth, a victory and second. It's nice to see hard work paying off."
Part of complete coverage on
updated 12:15 PM EDT, Tue April 16, 2013
Masters champion Adam Scott not only has to contend with national hero status at home but also the role of golf's latest sex symbol.
updated 7:18 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
Discover why golf's old school establishment fears a new breed of players creating new popularity with their online antics.
updated 2:54 PM EDT, Thu April 11, 2013
Following the web's reaction to Adam Scott's dramtic triumph at the 2013 Masters.
updated 10:08 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
It's not just golf that makes Augusta so special -- there's also James Brown, cheese pimiento sandwiches, turkeys and ghosts.
updated 9:00 AM EDT, Tue March 26, 2013
As a swimmer, his countless hours of training paid off handsomely. As a golfer, Michael Phelps is wondering what he got himself into.
updated 9:06 AM EDT, Mon April 1, 2013
American D.A. Points celebrates his win at the Houston Open by joining in the "Dufnering" craze that has gripped golf recently.
updated 8:40 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Ernie Els' coach Claude Harmon and former world No.1 Martin Kaymer tell Living Golf that anchored putting is dividing the sport.
updated 8:49 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Matteo Manassero, the youngest player to qualify for the Masters, reflects on his career and the boy who will break one of his records.
updated 8:34 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Thorbjorn Olesen as the rising star of European golf prepares for the most important tournaments of his career.
updated 3:25 PM EDT, Wed March 13, 2013
Martin Kaymer reflects on his performance at the 39th Ryder Cup, when he sunk the winning putt against the United States.
updated 10:01 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
CNN's Shane O'Donoghue asks how much Rory McIlroy's new multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal is really worth.
updated 12:48 PM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Paul McGinley, who talks about becoming Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 6:49 AM EST, Mon February 18, 2013
Paul McGinley's former captain, Sam Torrance, shares some advice for the pro golfer turned new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 10:16 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Don Riddell explores whether Tuscany can follow up on Italy's successes on the European Tour and develop golf tourism.
updated 10:12 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer shares his favorite shots with CNN's Shane O'Donoghue.
updated 1:40 PM EST, Tue February 5, 2013
Two men with lofty ambitions in a midwestern town of the United States have finally realized their dream after months of endeavor.
updated 7:13 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue explores the changing role of black players in South African golf.
updated 8:07 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets South Africa's Branden Grace, the outstanding breakout player from the 2012 European season.
updated 7:14 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets Dr. Sherylle Calder, the woman who taught reigning British Open champion Ernie Els how to putt again.
updated 9:39 AM EST, Sat December 22, 2012
It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and the Great Wall of China for a hazard.