Despite a bold late bid at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Peter has narrowly missed a chance to win his second USPGA Tour event, eventually finishing one behind Argentine Andres Romero who won for the first time on the USPGA Tour.

Returning to the TPC Louisiana  for a 7.20am restart of round three on Sunday morning, Peter picked up birdies at his 7th and 9th holes of round three before two early bogies on his way in. At the reachable par four 16th, Peter took driver and hit his tee shot into the middle of the green and two putted for birdie to move to 10 under. He remained that way as round three was completed and found himself in a tie for second one shot behind John Merrick as the tournament enter round four.

Due to the rain delays Romero was playing nearly three hours ahead of Peter and had posted a round of 67 and a total of 13 under even before Peter had even reached the turn at 11 under for the tournament. Peter's momentum was halted by a bogey at the 10th but he bounced back by all but holing his approach at the 11th. At the 12th Peter hit a brilliant second from and awakward stance in the left hand fairway trap to the front of the green and two putted for par. "That was a tricky shot and I was unsure how it would work out as I had to catch it clean but it came out perfectly and I was pleased to see it heading for the green." 

At the 13th Peter hit a poor second from just 65 yards 25 feet past the flag but then holed that to move to 12 under. "That second was a little trickier than it looked as the flag was near the front and I was almost too close." Peter safely negotiated the 14th and 15th holes but on the 16th he took the gamble with the driver at the reachable par four and found the very front edge of the green. "I had hit driver in the morning and was at a stage where I needed one more birdie and that was too good an opportunity not to have a go. I had been driving the ball quite well all day and felt comfortable with the shot."

Peter was able to two putt for birdie and he had joined Romero in the lead.  The par three 17th was the danger hole. "I figured if i could get through the 17th then the 18th provided me with one last chance to snatch the win. Water runs down the left of the hole and I perhaps bailed otu a little but missing it right was better than left. The pitch I hit was not too bad but it was a little quicker across there than I thought and it ran maybe 10 feet or so by. I got so bogged down with getting the line right I forgot to hit i the putt. I thought as it was down grain a little it might get there but it was not to be and the bogey hurt."

"I have not had a lot of luck with my driving at the 18th all week and again I turned it over a little and found the left hand trap. I had no option but to just get it out, so close was it to the steep lip, and I was still left with 198 yards or so even from there. The flag was in the back right and there was water not far right of it but I did turn it (his third) over a little and was left with a monster if I was to force a playoff."

I am a little disappointed I did not take advantage of a good opportunity to win but am really happy that my game stood up all week. I felt coming into this week, as I said on Wednesday, that things were starting to fall into place and overall it was a very good week. A win would have gotten me to Augusta but it may yet and I still have next week as my last chance if it hasn't."

Peter won US$669,000 for his effort and moves from 107th to 22nd on the money list. His new world ranking will be known in the next few hours but it is not expected to be enough to meet the top 50 by today's deadline for the Masters.

photo Chris Graythen - Getty 

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