Ian Poulter has said that he feels refreshed after taking six weeks out of the game before the WGC-Accenture Matchplay tournament.
The 37-year-old, who lifted the trophy three years ago, defeated Bo van Pelt to reach the last 16 in Arizona.
He said that the work he put into his game during the off-season has him in peak condition at the start of the 2013 calendar.
"It feels pretty good [to reach the last 16]," EuropeanTour.com quotes Poulter as saying. "It was always a little risky taking that amount of time off, but it's working out pretty well.
"I worked hard at home, put some new irons in the bag and I couldn't be any fresher or fitter than I am right now.
"I didn't make any silly mistakes and I guess making seven birdies you are going to be tough to beat."
Poulter will play South Africa's Tim Clark, conqueror of Thorbjorn Olesen.
