Peter Hanson of Sweden won for the first time in two years after he eagled the final hole to capture the KLM Open, his fifth European Tour victory.
Hanson holed a 35-footer on the final green Sunday for a final-round 67 to win by two strokes with a 14-under 266 on the Hilversumsche course.
An emotional Hanson dedicated his victory to his young son, Tim, who turns 2 in November and was hospitalized on Friday with a severe respiratory problem. The Swede had been on the verge of withdrawing from the centenary event but doctors advised him that he would be better off remaining in the Netherlands.
“It has been an up and down week with my little son ill in hospital, so it just puts golf in to perspective. You also don’t think straight when a family may be ill, as they are the most important thing,” Hanson said. “I had been on the phone every hour to my wife, and she was the one convincing me to stay. But hopefully now when I get home to Orlando, Tim will be a little better and also out of hospital and back home.
“So in many ways this win is for Tim, and I am very much looking forward to seeing. But not getting too close at least until the virus has fully passed.”
Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal (70) and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay (67) shared second place on 12 under.
Hanson earned €300,000 and jumped four places to eighth on the Race to Dubai money list. The victory is the fifth in succession for a member of the European Ryder Cup team on either the European Tour or PGA Tour since qualifying ended at the end of last month.
Paul Lawrie cemented his place in the team with victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, while Sergio Garcia claimed the Wyndham Championship. Rory McIlroy then won for a third time this year on the PGA Tour in capturing the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Ramsay will return to his Atlanta home later this week having finished second a week after winning in Switzerland. The 29-year old Scot, who will be married in less than two weeks, has risen to 17th on the Race to Dubai money list.
“A sixth in Scotland, a first last week in Switzerland, and now sharing second here in Holland is another great wedding present,” he said.
Richard Finch jumped 36 places to share eighth place on seven under par after holing his second shot for an albatross at No. 18. The Englishman hit a 6-iron from 213 yards out in a round of a 64.