Hanson's 1-year-old son seriously ill with virus

• By Associated Press
• Sep 8, 2012 3:12 PM ET

HILVERSUM, Netherlands – Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson received an exemption from KLM Open officials to use his mobile phone during play on Saturday, so he could keep in contact with his wife over his seriously ill 1-year-old son.

Hanson's son, Tim, contracted a respiratory virus known as RS and was isolated on Friday in the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Fla., where the Swede is based with his family.

RS is common in small children. Hanson said his 5-year-old daughter, Stella, brought the virus home from school and passed it to Tim, his wife and their nanny. Only Tim was seriously ill.

''I've been told it's a very dangerous virus in young children, and it's also very aggressive,'' Hanson said.

With the virus being contagious, Hanson was warned by doctors to avoid his family, for now. So he elected to stay in the KLM Open, though he said he slept for only half an hour on Friday night.

Despite his concerns for his family and lack of sleep, he shot a 67 and was only a stroke behind the leaders heading into the final round.

''The doctors said that when they cough, it could be just so easy for me to pick up the virus, and that's the last thing I need going to Medinah (for the Ryder Cup),'' he said.

''It's just so tough as my mind is over in Florida with my wife and children, but then I'm still trying to focus and win this event, particularly now I am only one behind.''