Two hip operations and back surgery have rebuilt veteran Peter Fowler into thinking about his first tournament victory in almost two decades.
The 51-year-old New Zealand-based New South Welshman declared at the Australian PGA at Coolum he was hitting the ball better than at any stage of his career sinceunder going hip and back surgery in the past 18 months.
The proof was in his opening rounds of 66-68 which have him back on a major Australian leaderboard where he was a regular in the 1980s.
His last big tournament win was the 1983 Australian Open and his last significant wins were the 1993 New Zealand Open and BMW International in Munich.
After his two-under 70 on Friday, which left him three shots behind early second round leaders Bob Gates (64-69) and China's highly impressive "Ice Man" Wenchong Liang (66-68), a quietly confident Fowler said he could finally end his 17-year drought after an extensive physiotherapy and fitness programme had dramatically improved his condition.
It was almost like Veterans' Day at Coolum with 51 year-old Peter Senior (70-67) moving to seven under.
"I've got the fitness back and I'm finally starting to putt well again which is the difference," said the bald-headed Fowler. "I felt about 85 this time last year. Up until June I'd spent 12 months doing rehab from back surgery and two hip jobs, and a hernia as well. I've been playing the European Seniors Tour since then with four or five top 10 finishes and 29th on the money list."
Fowler said if his good form continued he would have a crack at qualifying for the lucrative US Seniors Tour next year.
The Championship will extend into today after heavy showers stopped play midway through the final round yesterday.
Richard Lee was comfortably the best of the other New Zealanders, shooting a six-under 66 to be four-under and in a share of 25th. Compatriots Gareth Paddison, Michael Hendry and Hamish Robertson all finished the tournament two-over the card.
