Peter has withdrawn from this week's PGA Championship at the Hyatt Regency Coolum in order to focus on getting his back right.

"Given that I have played so well at Coolum over the years and that it is always a fun week it is disappointing to be missing the event," said Peter on Tuesday. "It is better to take the time now to get this issue sorted out however and hopefully be back fit and ready for the new year."

Peter's record at the PGA Championship speaks for itself. He has won it on two occasions in 2004 and 2007 on his own and in 2002 shared the title with Jarrod Moseley. He also finished runner up to Nick O'Hern after a playoff in 2006.

Peter has been forced to withdraw from this week's Australian Open, a back injury causing him to miss one of his favourite golf tournaments.

After being forced to withdraw at the recent PGA Tour School Peter was hoping to be fit for the Australian Open but it has not worked out that way.

"It has been bothering me for a while and being forced to withdraw is being made even more difficult by the fact that not only will I miss the Australian open but I will miss an event at the NSW Golf Club which I really enjoy. I played well there when the Modified Stableford event was played there a few years ago and really enjoy the layout."

"I'm not sure yet if I will be able to make it for next week's PGA either as I need to get my back sorted out and am hoping to play a full year on the Nationwide Tour next year. I have status for one full year because I had a full tour card for five years. I will try and get this career back on the road."   

Following weekend rounds of 77 and 73 Peter has slipped to finish 69th at the Children's Miracle Worker Classic in Orlando and now faces Stage Two Qualifying in an endeavour to regain his PGA Tour status.

Peter will tee it up at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City in Florida where he has a first round tee time of 7.45am.

This will be the first occasion in his eight year PGA Tour career where Peter has been forced to regain his card via the Tour School but having done it before in 2001 to earn his initial playing rights he knows what to expect. 

Peter has added a second round of 70 to his opening round of 69 at the Children's Miracle Network Classic and at the completion of play on day two he finds himself at 5 under and in 23rd position. Peter is seven shots from Justin Leonard's lead but  importantly, looking ahead to his chances of securing the big finish he needs this week, his putting has improved.

Peter has finished the opening two rounds in 4th place in the putting stats which, given where he has been in that department of his game for much of the season, is a huge advance.

Peter played the Palms Course today but tomorrow the event returns to the host venue, the Magnolia Golf Course, for the final two rounds.   
 
Peter was progressing nicely today when he moved to three under for the round through 8 holes but he was unable to build  any further momentum and a bogey at his last hole, the par three 8th, saw him finish with his round of two under.