LONDON — Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano will replace the injured Peter Hanson in the Continental Europe team for this week's Seve Trophy near Paris, the European Tour announced Monday. Swede Hanson has withdrawn from the biennial contest against Britain and Ireland at St-Nom-La Breteche Golf Club due to a back injury that has affected him for most of the season. Hanson, 35, said: “I am really disappointed not to be able to play. Everyone knows how much I love matchplay events. My back has been an issue for pretty much most of the year and it is still not 100 percent. I have my defense of the BMW Masters in China coming up which is part of the Final Series of the European Tour and I want to be in ideal shape for that full run of tournaments.” Hanson's mind coach Torsten Hansson said the player was still practicing but did not think his back would stand up to the rigors of the Seve Trophy. He added Hanson was about to spend two weeks in Florida, where he is based, receiving treatment on a compressed disc. Fernandez-Castano said: “I really enjoyed the two previous contests I played and it is important to support a tournament with Seve's name on it, It was a privilege to play under Seve in 2007 and under Thomas Bjorn in 2009, and it is a dream come true for me now to play in the Seve Trophy with Jose Maria (Olazabal) as captain.” Fernandez-Castano is joined by his fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, Danish duo Thomas Bjorn and Thorbjorn Olesen, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Finland's Mikko Ilonen Dutchman Joost Luiten, and the Italian pair of Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari. They will take on a Britain and Ireland team captained by Sam Torrance and featuring five Englishmen; Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Simon Khan, David Lynn and Chris Wood, four Scotsmen; Stephen Gallacher, Scott Jamieson, Paul Lawrie and Marc Warren, and Welshman Jamie Donaldson. The event format is similar to the Ryder Cup with foursomes and fourballs followed by the singles matches on the final day. A team requires 14½ points for victory. — Reuters
