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Sweden’s Peter Hanson has produced a timely victory at the Czech Open to not only win his fourth European Tour title but importantly for the 32 year old he has forced his way into calculations for the European Ryder Cup team.
Hanson’s playoff victory over England’s Gary Boyd and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie virtually assured him a pace in the Ryder Cup squad to be finalised at the completion of next week’s Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland.
In addition to his win in Mallorca earlier in the season, Hanson has been a model of consistency in the last twelve months, missing only one cut in his last 24 starts and slowly but surely edging his way closer to a Ryder Cup debut. He has recently produced top tens in events such as the Bridgestone and the French Open ensuring he was in the mind Captain Montgomerie even without automatic qualification.
“Knowing that I had to win to have a chance to get into the Ryder Cup Team and being able to pull it together is fantastic,” he told European Tour radio. “We still have one week to go before the team is finalised and we all saw one happened this week so I am going to Gleneagles and refocus and recharge my batteries and try to be ready again.”
Hanson took a four shot lead into the final day but faltered early with three bogeys in his opening four holes. He appeared to have things back on track by adding two birdies by the 10th hole but a double bogey at the 12th could have potentially ruined a lot of dreams for him.
He birdied the 16th and then when all three players shared the honours at the opening playoff hole Hanson holed a beautiful 20 foot putt at the second extra hole to take the title.
Danny Lee led the Australasians in 35th position, Scott Hend was 48th position, Rick Kulacz 51st and Tim Stewart 76th.
