Hanson beats McIlroy to Shanghai title

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Hanson beats McIlroy to Shanghai title

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Despite a bogey at the last, Hanson held on for the victory and the richest prize of his career.

28 October,2012 03:27 pm

Peter Hanson of Sweden won the BMW Masters on Sunday for his second European Tour victory of the year, shooting a 5-under 67 to hold off Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy by a stroke.Hanson finished at 21-under 267 on The Masters Course at Lake Malaren and earned $1,166,600 in the European Tours richest regular event. He won the KLM Open last month in the Netherlands and has six career tour victories.The top-ranked McIlroy, the winner last year when the event was a non-sanctioned exhibition tournament, finished with a 67.Third-ranked Luke Donald was third at 17 under after a 66, and fellow Englishman Ian Poulter completed a sweep of the top four spots by EuropeanRyder Cup players, closing with a 65 to finish at 16 under.McIlroy, who began the final round one shot behind Hanson, fell four shots behind after five holes.However the double major winner regrouped with four birdies over his next eight holes before eagling the par-five 15th. McIlroy then closed to within two when he holed a 25-footer for birdie at the par-three 16th.Despite a bogey at the last, Hanson held on for the victory and the richest prize of his career.Its fantastic to win the BMW Masters, and to go head-to-head with the world No. 1 is always nice but, to come out on top, it feels great, Hansonsaid. This is by far my biggest win so it feels great, as we had just so many guys in the top 10 in the world so this trophy is very, very special to me.McIlroy was chasing his fifth victory of the season but has had to settle for a ninth second place finish on the European Tour.I didnt get the best of starts but it started coming together over the back nine and thats what I wanted Peter to do, and thats have to try and make him work for it, said McIlroy. But he played well and deserved his win. To go out there with the lead and play the way he did and shoot 67, is veryimpressive, so he was always going to be tough to beat.