Sweden's Peter Hanson delivered the European Ryder Cup team yet another timely lift with a first victory in two years at the centenary KLM Open while Richie Ramsay heads off to his up-coming wedding on a high having now finished sixth, first and second in as many weeks.
Hanson holed a sensational 35-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win by two strokes with a 14-under par tally and moments before Ramsay birdied the last in a round of 67 to share second place on 12-under par with Spain's Pablo Larrazabal.
Hanson, 34 had been on the verge of withdrawing from the event on Saturday concerned for his near two-year old son, Tim, isolated in an Orlando hospital with a serious respiratory virus. But doctors at the Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital along with the Swede's wife, Sanna said Hanson would be better off staying in Holland.
"My little son, Tim has been hospital since Friday and while I'm really pleased to win, what's he's been going through puts golf in perspective," said Hanson. "For me it's been about the Ryder Cup for the last four, five to six weeks and preparing everything in my game so that I will be 100% ready when I get to Medinah.
"But to learn about Tim on Friday took my mind off golf, so it's now going to be nice to go home to Orlando, and hopefully when I get back he will be out of hospital."
"I haven't won in two years and while I have had a few chances, it is just so nice when you can finish it off. To now go to the Ryder Cup knowing I won my last event is a huge confidence lift for me knowing you can pull off a win in the manner I did."
The Swede now joins Paul Lawrie (Johnnie Walker), Sergio Garcia (Wyndham) and Rory McIlroy (Deutsche Bank Championship) with victories following the close of European Team qualifying.
Ramsay began the final round three shots from the front but stalled to be level par for the day after a dozen holes before the Aberdonian finally made his move with a birdie at 15 and birdieing the closing two holes. "When Peter [Hanson] rolled in that great eagle putt at the last I knew that was it but to birdie three out of the last four is very pleasing," the Scot said.
Ramsay collected a prize cheque for £123,533 and has jumped three spots to 17th on the money list and just places shy of an automatic start in next year's US Open and Open Championship should he finish the year inside the top-115.
Glasgow's Scott Jamieson failed to grab the start he needed dropping three shots in his outward half to sign for a 71 and fourth place on 11-under par. However Jamieson's £71,114 has lifted him to 61st on the money list and a spot outside of qualifying for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
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