"Horrendous, horrendous decision by PDC" - Alan Soutar considers handing Tour Card back after controversial Euro Tour changes

Alan Soutar is through to the last 32 of the 2025 UK Open. The world number 56 defeated Matt Campbell 10-7 in the fourth round and will now face Jonny Clayton on Saturday afternoon. Following his win however, the match itself was the last thing on Soutar's mind, with the Scot instead lashing out at a controversial recent rule change by the PDC.

The crux of the issue is the format change the PDC has made to the European Tour in 2025 which protects the top 16 significantly, whilst also making life much more difficult for those on the outside looking in. For Soutar, who balances his darting ambitions with a career as a fireman, the changes are catastrophic. “When I come home from work, practice. Before a night shift, practice and that’s a massive thing putting in the time," he begins. “It’s impossible, I’m trying my hardest but again I’m going to sound like I am moaning, but the PDC have shut the door on me again. You know the score with Euro Tours and all that stuff, they’ve just closed the door on you. So a normal guy that works, they don’t want us.”
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“I’d be as well giving my tour card back. That’s as bad as the players feel about it. Horrendous, horrendous decision by PDC," continues 'Soots'. “You can keep your card, but you cannot get into the top 32. It’s impossible. So they’ve absolutely shut the door on you. I get it, I get why they’re doing it, it’s a business and I get why they want the marquee players, but, for the guys that are 33 to 64, good luck."

As for his Tour Card, despite being tempted to hand it in, Soutar is still fighting to stay in the top 64. “Important to keep your Tour Card, to stay in the top 64, that’s what’s important. That’s all I can look towards, that’s the only place I can look at. The player above me is £14,000 above me and I’m 56th in the world, so what else you want me to say about that? I’m 14 grand behind the guy above me and I’m 56th,” he assesses. 

As mentioned, it's now Jonny Clayton up next for Soutar, a match the Scot will head towards with no fear. “I don’t need to avoid anybody, I can beat them all but I’m not a professional dart player, I don’t do this as a job, so it’s very hard," he concludes. “You need to play your best to beat these guys that are up there doing the Premier League and doing all the top 16. It’s very hard to beat them obviously, but if you’re on your game, there’s 128 guys in there that can beat everybody else, so I feel confident, I’m practising well and playing well. I played well there apart from the last couple of legs. I can beat anybody."

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