Peter's planned return to the USA to play several of the early season Nationwide Tour events has been put on hold while he undergoes keyhole hip and knee surgery.

After completing an, at times, encouraging week last week at the Moonah Classic south of Melbourne, Peter visited a specialist in Melbourne on Monday morning to get  further advice on what has been a lengthy and painful injury of the lower back and hip area.

The problem had been isolated to the hip by specialists in Sydney but, on the recommendation of the PGA Tour's medical team, Peter met with a specialist on Monday and was advised that he should seriously consider having surgery for both his hip and knee at the same time. Weighing up the options available to him a decision was made for him to go ahead with the procedures this week.

"I figure that I may as well go ahead and get them both done now as the sooner it is done the sooner it will be over and  I can get back playing again", said Peter from Sydney before heading to Melbourne. "Both the Specialist and the Surgeon involved  are highly regarded in dealing with sports injuries and have indicated I will be out of tournament golf for three months but were adamant that if it was not done soon then it was only going to get worse."   

"The knee issue has developed almost as a result of the pain in the hip and has blown up quite a lot over the past few weeks. I actually felt quite good fitness wise at the weekend at Moonah but understand this needs to be done now if I am to extend my playing career."

"The procedure itself will not take long but given that both will be done at once I will be incapacitated for a few weeks and it may be at least two months before I can get back to hitting balls again."

"I am disappointed and it is frustrating but there really is little option."

photo shows Peter playing at Moonah at weekend - photo A Powter

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