Peter Hanson calls it the ‘Rory McIlroy Factor’ as pivotal in the Swede ending a two-year winless drought to capture the centenary KLM Open.
With concern for his ill young son, Hanson eagled the last hole to win for a first time since capturing the 2010 Czech Open, and a victory that secured his place in the eventual victorious European Team.
Hanson had been on the point of withdrawing from the Dutch event before the Orlando-based Swede wrapped-up his fifth Tour title.
Hanson left Amsterdam this morning bound for Florida and a fortnight’s break before travelling north to Chicago and the 27th September commencing Ryder Cup at Medinah.
However Hanson singled out Rory McIlroy in being instrumental in European Team members winning, and also returning to form, since the Northern Irishman cruised to an eight-shot victory in the PGA Championship.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie won the Johnnie Walker Championship, Spain’s Sergio Garcia clinched the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship that same weekend while McIlroy continued his winning ways capturing the Deutsche Bank Championship and now the BMW last Sunday at Crooked Stick.
“My victory is all very much down to Rory as his PGA win was massive for the European Team,” said Hanson.
“With Rory winning, Sergio winning and then Paul winning in Scotland, it is like we are all feeding off what he did at Kiawah Island.
“So in many ways Rory’s win has pushed the rest of us to work even harder.”
Hanson also singled out fellow European Team Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Nicolas Colsaerts.
“It’s great to see Lee returning to form in the BMW Championship and Ian also is again playing well, so that has to be good for the team,” said Hanson.
“Jose Maria (Olazabal) met me after I had finished to congratulate me and he said how nice it was to see me win and also to have Nicolas and Martin playing well, too.”
Olazabal, Colsaerts and Kaymer will contest this week’s BMW Italian Open in Turin where they will be joined by Francesco Molinair, who will no doubt be anxious to capture a second Italian Open title.
Colsaearts will use the Italian event to get further competition on yet another tight tree-lined course as he found last week in Holland and what he will face in three weeks in Medinah.
“I’m really pleased I played in Holland and looking forward to Italy as everything is pretty good in my game,” said the Belgium.
“The great thing about Holland and Turin this week is that, according to Jose Maria, is that they are similar to Medinah.
“So it’s all good scenery for me to have, playing courses that are tree lined but then if it was wide open I probably would not be playing.
“And with one event before going to the Ryder Cup I am getting more information as what to expect when I get to Chicago but then again I realise it is going to be something that I have never ever experienced in my life or thought about out.
“I’ve been talking with the vice-captains along with Martin (Kaymer) and Henrik Stenson who has played in a few Ryder Cups so it’s all been pretty helpful.”
