Peter is happy enough with the progress his game has made depsite missing the cut at the New Zealand Open in Queenstown last week. "I stayed on in Queenstown and practiced on Saturday and Sunday for three hours or so each day and things defintely feel better than they were a week ago," said Peter today from Moonah Links south of Melbourne.

 Importantly there is little concern with the back / hip which after three rounds walking the Hills Golf Club is encouraging after his first tournament back in nearly three months. "The hip felt alright today and certainly my game feels a little better then last week after getting back into it there." 

Peter is at Moonah Links to play the second event of the Nationwide Tour season, the Moonah Classic, and the layout is one that holds special memories for him. Peter won the first of his two Australian Opens at Moonah in 2003 and he again likes what he sees of the golf course just over six years on. "The greens are a little softer and maybe the golf course is playing a little shorter but it is still a very good golf course."  

Peter will have a 7.55am tee off on Thursday as he looks to gte things moving in the right direction in his first season on the Nationwide Tour.

Peter has struggled in his second round at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open and has missed the cut by three shots in his first Nationwide Tour event.

After nearly three months away from tournament golf, Peter was round in 71 in his opening round yesterday and, out in the afternoon on day two, he recorded an early bogey and was behind the eightball as far as making the cut was concerned. He rallied back to be at the cut mark of 2 under before a double bogey at his 13th hole ensured he would need something special over the closing few holes if he was to be around for the weekend.

Things unfortunately went the other way and a bogey at the dangerous par three 14th sealed his fate. Peter finished with a round of 74 to be at 1 over.

"I was cruising along up to the 12th and with a birdie opportunity at the 13th things seemnd to be under control but the double bogey there was the end of things really."

"Overall my body felt alright so that is promising and I will spend time over the weekend hitting balls and hopefully things will pick up for next week." 

Peter will now head to Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula, the scene of one of his Australian Open Championship victories.   

Peter is back playing and is delighted to be so. Speaking from Queenstown today Peter expressed satisfaction at the way his hip and back issue was standing up to practice and a little play. "I guess we will see how it goes but so far so good," said Peter after taking his first look at Hills Golf Club layout  near Queenstown in Central Otago.

"This is my first trip to the South island but I have to say that this area is fantastic," added Peter referring to the grandeur of the surrounding Wakatipu Basin.

"I played 12 holes or so yesterday and will play the pro-am today so I have yet to walk a full 18 holes since taking time off but feel reasonably confident."

Peter has an early tee off on day one in what will be his first ever Nationwide Tour start. 

Peter is set to play his first event in nearly three months when he tees it up at the  Michael Hill New Zealand Open later this month. After a battle of late with a back injury and then a knee issue, Peter feels there has been enough improvement in those injuries for him to be able to play at the Hills Golf Club in Queenstown."

"The back, or more specifically, hip injury has been quite a lot better over the last couple of weeks thanks to the things I have been set to do by the specialist so at this stage it is feeling alright to play," said Peter. 

"I am looking forward to playing in Queenstown. I have heard a lot about the place and have never been to the South Island."

"My plan is to play that event, then the Moonah Classic and then events in Panama and Colombia before a break providing everything is holding up. There is a PGA Tour event I might get a start in also during that period so will see how it all comes together."