Hanson honoured in October

Peter Hanson has been named The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for October after “winning against the best of the best” by repelling World Number One Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup colleagues Luke Donald and Ian Poulter to capture the BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai. Hanson, who receives an engraved alms dish and a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne, captured his second title in three tournaments on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule – rounds of 66-64-70-67 giving him a 21-under par total of 267 – one ahead of McIlroy – and propelling him to second place in The Race to Dubai and to 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking. The Swede, who celebrated his 35th birthday the week after being in the European Team that retained The Ryder Cup at Medinah, was named the October winner by The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month Panel, comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from television and radio. The panel also praised Branden Grace and Shane Lowry for their respective European Tour victories at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Portugal Masters; while Padraig Harrington (PGA Grand Slam of Golf) and Thaworn Wiratchant (Hero Indian Open) were singled out for their outstanding performances on the global stage. But it was Hanson who won the final vote following his outstanding victory in China. He said: “I’m a little bit shocked to have won the Golfer of the Month! It is a very nice shock though, and the first time in my career that I have won it so I look forward to putting that trophy in the cabinet at home. “It’s great to be recognised for the victory. I said it when I won that it was the biggest win of my career and the more I look back to the way I performed against the best players in the world – especially Rory who is the undisputed World Number One at the moment – gives me a lot of confidence and satisfaction.” Derek Lawrenson, Golf Correspondent of the Daily Mail, said: “Branden Grace’s achievement in winning for the fourth time on The European Tour was an astonishing feat. Furthermore, does it get any better than winning wire-to-wire at the Home of Golf? Shane Lowry’s victory was equally heart-warming for, after the growing pains he felt during his first two years as a professional, this was clearly an indication that he is now ready to build on all that awesome promise he displayed in winning the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009. “My Golfer of the Month, though, is the classy Swede, Peter Hanson. The men chasing him in the BMW Masters read like a veritable who’s who of the European game but he didn’t flinch for a second, not even when current World Number One Rory McIlroy threw a late charge at him. Winning against the best of the best deserves to carry extra weight and that is why my vote went to Hanson.” James Corrigan, Golf Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, said: “With a big mention for Branden, who is surely ‘the find’ of this European Tour season, Peter Hanson’s performance in Shanghai was sheer class. It was his first tournament since The Ryder Cup and he held off the World Number One in gutsy style. Behind Rory McIlroy came Luke Donald and Ian Poulter on one of 2012’s stellar leader-boards. Hanson goes from strength to strength.” Hanson follows Branden Grace (January), Paul Lawrie (February), Rory McIlroy (March and August), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May), Jamie Donaldson (June), Ernie Els (July) and Ian Poulter (September) in winning a Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award this year. All nine will join the November winner in being considered for The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award.