Peter is a happy and relieved man today as he returned to hitting balls at slightly more than half pace for the first time since his keyhole surgery for knee and hip injuries three weeks ago.

"It feels great," said Peter from the Lakes Golf Club today where he was hitting a few short irons. "I have been chipping and putting for a while and there has been little concern but it was good to know that I could go to a slightly higher level and for there to be no issues. I am some way from being able to hit flat out and I do not want to rush it but it has been nice to get back on the range and hit a few shots that's for sure."

 Peter will see his surgeon in Melbourne in ten days or so and given the success of this surgery he will seek his advice as to whether his other hip can be done soon. If not he hopes to be back playing competitively within a couple of months but if the surgeon believes it is advisable then he would like to get the other hip out of the way, such has been the success of the operation on the first.

Ideally Peter would like to be ready to play at the Heritage Classic where he gets a start as a previous winner but much will be dependant on the advice of his surgeon.