Anders Hansen has put himself in superb position to do something that no golfer has managed in the history of the game, and that it to capture the ‘Trans Atlantic’ PGA Championship double.
Hansen has won won two PGA Championships on the opposite side of ‘The Pond’ and the Dane is now eyeing a first Major success in the PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Atlanta.
The affable Dane had the European Tour flag flying high on the second day after adding a 69 to his opening round score of 68 to move among the leaders at five under par in golf’s ‘last shot at glory’ in 2011.
Anders Hansen not only looking for first Major but rare 'trans Atlantic' PGA double. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
It’s only the third time in 20 rounds of the PGA Championship, Hansen’s broken 70.
The 40-year old Hansen capped his second round with four birdies but there was the disappointment also of a closing hole birdie.
The Sonderborg-born Hansen, who now calls Zurich home, is making his eighth PGA Championship appearance since debut in 2002 at Hazeltine.
But while Hansen has tasted success in winning both the 2002 and 2007 BMW PGA Championship at European Tour HQ in Surrey, he’s failed poorly in past PGA Championship’s in the States missing the cut in five, including the last three, and finishing 24th in 2006 and 12th a year later.
Now the three-time European Tour winner stands a good chance of adding a first Major, some 16 years after turning pro.
“I played very solid today and hit 16 greens today, and I also putted decently,” he said.
“The course is set up very, very tough today as they’ve stuck the pins out in the corners and made it tough for us today, so it’s difficult to hit it really, really close.
“The greens are great. The fairways are awesome.”
And while Hansen’s PGA Championship record doesn’t make for good reading, he’s excited about the prospect of becoming the first player in to win both the flagship European Tour event, the BMW PGA, and the PGA Championship.
“I’m 3‑under par and I don’t know how it’s going to look at the end of the day, but it doesn’t look it’s going to be so far away,” said Hansen.
“So I’m in a good position and I’ll just take it from there.”
