JOHN PART feels that he is now "ready" for the defence of his Las Vegas Desert Classic title.
The Canadian won Sunday's Players Championship at Hayling Island with a 3-1 defeat of Mervyn King in the final of the last ranking tournament ahead of the visit to Las Vegas.
With a Players Championship in Las Vegas ahead of the Desert Classic itself, Part is in confident mood as he prepares to defend the title he claimed 12 months ago.
"Since Connecticut in May, I've been playing very solid matches and winning most of them so I feel pretty good," said Part - who had to come through last year's Desert Classic but is in the top 12 this time around.
"I've got a little visit to Ireland and will then go back home and relax for a week before Las Vegas.
"It's calming down now and will be much easier to relax off a win.
"In a way, Hayling Island was my qualifying round for the Desert Classic and I can rest now - I'm ready."
Part knocked out some big-name rivals on his way to Sunday's win, including fellow top 12 players Adrian Lewis, Peter Manley and Dennis Priestley, before seeing off PDC newcomer Mervyn King in the final by hitting five 180s.
"In all the years I've been watching Mervyn, I know how good he is at hitting 180s and I dug down deep inside and knew I had to hit some myself to keep level with him," said Part.
"On the scoring it was probably my best game but my best single three darts was in the semi-final with Dennis.
"He broke me in the first set when I had the throw and I needed to try and get in the match. We were both on 161 in the first leg and he missed the bull to hit it, and then I took it out, and it turned the match around.
"The Players Championship format is pretty topsy-turvey, the best of three legs a set, and you have to hang in there and hit your shots."
Part had gone out in the fifth round of the Blue Square UK Open a week earlier, losing 11-10 to Raymond van Barneveld in a deciding leg - seeing the Dutchman take out 111 for a 12-darter against the throw as he waited on 68.
"I didn't miss a double there, I just saw my chance go away when he hit that 111," added Part. "It was beautiful darts.
"There was no fault there, and I'd rather lose that way than if we'd both missed - not that I think I would have missed!"
Part left Bolton on the Sunday, returning to Canada to play in the midweek National Championships before returning to Hayling Island with more silverware to his name.
"That went well for me back in Canada," he said. "I played the Pairs on Tuesday with Dan Olson, we went through the round-robin and we ended up winning at the end of a long, tough day.
"The Singles was Wednesday and it was another long day. There were some great darts in the round-robin and people wouldn't believe when I say how good some of the guys played.
"It was really a privilege to play in it and get my fifth title.
"I beat Gerry Convery in the last eight, Doug Scanlon - another long-time partner and friend of mine - in the semi and then a great young played from Saskatchewan in the final, Danny McKenzie.
"I guess I spoiled the party, because it would have exploded had he won in his home area but I managed to hold on and win.
"Bob Sinnaeve's record is five and Patricia Farrell on the women's side has five too and I've got to give her credit too because she was a great player of the past.
"You need goals and you need to focus on things - it had been three years since I played in the event and I won it the last time, but it's difficult to schedule in with the PDC circuit.
"I pushed myself hard last week and I did it, and that confidence was a boost for me at Hayling Island because I played a lot of great games in Canada as well as playing well in Bolton and I feel good right now.
"It was probably beneficial for me to make that trip but now I can take it a little easier before Las Vegas!"