Hanson’s mind back on job after son’s illness

Sweden’s Peter Hanson can focus on helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup in Chicago this week after a happy conclusion to the health scare surrounding his one-year-old son.

On the second day of the KLM Open in Holland this month, Hanson called home to his wife Sanna in Florida to hear the news that their son Tim had been taken to hospital with a respiratory virus. The 34-year-old was on the verge of withdrawing from the tournament until his wife convinced him there was nothing he could do — and two days later he claimed his first victory for two years.

“It was a very strange week,” Hanson said yesterday. “Sometimes this game is just a strange game. When you think about other stuff in between shots .... I was thinking about him all the way around, especially Saturday. And all of a sudden, golf doesn’t become that important.”