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Hanson tees up in Volvo China Open proud of his performance at Masters

By PGA.com news services
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Hanson tees up in Volvo China Open proud of his performance at Masters

Peter Hanson says he holds no lingering disappointment from finishing third at the Masters and is keen to tee off in the Volvo China Open this week.

Hanson was the overnight leader going into the final round at Augusta National on April 8, but the Swede shot a 2-over 73 to finish tied for third.

''I am very proud of the performance,'' said Hanson, who has four top-5 finishes this season. ''I have to say when I left the 18th green on Sunday I was a little bit disappointed, but that left me pretty quick.''

Englishman Ian Poulter, who finished seventh at the Masters, three shots behind Hanson, also is optimistic coming into the European Tour event at Binhai Lake Golf Club.

''I like coming out to Asia and have had some success in this part of the world,'' Poulter said. ''I get a nice reception here and have a decent fan base, which is always nice -- that's why I like coming out to play.''

Also in the field are Paul Casey, the 2006 China Open winner who will look to continue his comeback from a shoulder injury; Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, who won last year at a tournament-record 24 under; and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, who secured his first European Tour title at the Sicilian Open three weeks ago.

Casey will be thinking of his closet as well as his clubs this week. The Englishman won the China Open in 2006 when it was held in Shenzen and still has the golden jacket to prove it, and now he is hoping to add another one to his collection.

"It would be very nice to have a closet full of those when I end my career," he said. "Winning is a special thing and I have to say that I like to win tournaments that carry a jacket. Obviously everyone wants the green one, but it is a cool prize to win here and I like playing in China.

Shenzen was a great course and great people and I just like coming to this country. I always get a lot of support here and hopefully that can continue this week."

Casey endured a frustrating start to the season after a dislocated shoulder suffered while snowboarding in December kept him out until March, but he believes he is getting back to something like his best form.

"Sitting around on the couch has brought the passion back and now I just have to put in a lot of hard work to get back to the required standard," he said.

"The ball-striking is good, but I just don't have the consistency yet. The razor sharpness in the putting isn't there yet, but I have made great strides and the confidence is growing every single day and I really believe I will be in that winner's circle soon."

Also in the field will be Guangzhou teenager Guan Tian-lang.

At 13 years and 173 days old, Guan will make history as the youngest player ever to appear in a European Tour event, beating the record of Lo Shik-kai, who was 13 years and 280 days old when he played in the 2003 Hong Kong Open.

Guan thought he had missed out when he finished agonizingly short of his top-3 target in the mid-China qualifying event in Hangzhou three weeks ago, but winner Wu Kang-chun was exempt, lifting Guan into the qualification spots.

"I really couldn't be happier -- I'm so excited right now," he said. "I was really disappointed to lose out in the playoff and I thought I'd blown a great chance to make history, but then to find out I'm actually going to play is like a dream come true.

"My goal now is to be the youngest player ever to make the cut in a European Tour event, and I think if I can shoot level par or better I'll have a good chance to do that."

Guan began playing golf at the age of four and became world champion for his age group in San Diego last year, winning by 11 shots.