SHANGHAI: Peter Hanson may have set alight Lake Malaren with a scorching 64 to lead the $7 million BMW Masters on Friday, but the big Swede spent the rest of the day trying to pour cold water on a Ryder Cup row that blew up earlier this month.

Hanson, part of Europe's historic team which won in Medinah, had been reported at the Dunhill Links Championships at Carnoustie the following week as saying he was "disappointed" after being snubbed for the Saturday's play in Chicago by captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

Martin Kaymer was also left out, but the German came back to hole the cup-winning putt in the Sunday singles. Hanson, however, lost to Jason Dufner and so was left as the only European not to contribute anything toward the team's points total.

Hanson had added, tongue in cheek, that he "might not send Olazabal any Christmas cards this year" - prompting recriminating headlines around the world.

Hanson, who was playing in the final group in Saturday's third round in Shanghai alongside world number one and Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy, claimed the controversy had only arisen because his words had been taken out of context, something he had explained to the captain.

"Yeah I spoke to Ollie (Olazabal) this week," said Hanson. "Obviously we talked about it. You know you still go up and say sorry for what's happened.

"There were no hard feelings whatsoever and it was just taken out of context. I tried to be a bit funny with Ollie's Christmas card and it backfired on me."

Olazabal has brought the Ryder Cup trophy with him to Shanghai and told AFP that there was no problem with Hanson.

"Peter and I talked this week and I understand his feelings. Sometimes it is tough to have to sit on the bench and not play when you are expecting to play," said Olazabal, ahead of the third round in Shanghai.

"But what I did by not playing Peter I did because I thought it was the best for the team."

Olazabal added that it was time to draw a line under the issue. "I do understand where Peter is coming from and the best thing is that we left Medinah as a team, a winning team, and we will still be a team," he said.

"I am looking forward now to receiving that Christmas card from Peter, and many more Christmas cards." - AFP

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