"It sounds like buses, doesn't it? You wait for one for ages and then two come along at once": Luke Woodhouse opens the floodgates with second title in 12 days

They say that like buses you wait for one and then three come at once. Well for Luke Woodhouse, he waited so much time for one PDC ranking title and to shake off being the highest ranked without one to win two in just over a week. He won the Baltic Sea Darts Open seeing off Ryan Joyce in the final.

In doing so, he continued what could be a career-changing period for his future ambitions and playing in majors whilst also now being a contender for further honours now he has got the monkey off his back.

Although he admitted the final was not the highest-quality match, that mattered little to him at the time as winning of course especially after so long without it is very much the aim of the game.

"Oh yeah, it's just a tough game. I don't think me and Ryan probably played our best darts, but when he missed those first two dart opportunities, I was thinking, "Hit this double top, please go in," and it went in," he said post final. "It's probably not a final for the ages, but I will take it 100%."

Less than two weeks earlier, Woodhouse held an unenviable distinction. He was known as the highest-ranked player in the world without an official PDC ranking title to his name. That tag disappeared when he won his first Players Championship event. Now, twelve days later, he has added a European Tour title as well.

Woodhouse was able to laugh about it afterwards and he used the same analogy as to start this piece to describe it.

"It sounds like buses, doesn't it? You wait for one for ages and then two come along at once. I'm so happy to be playing some good darts. I'm really enjoying my darts at the moment, and to win this is unbelievable."

The remark perfectly sums up how quickly things can change in darts. For years, Woodhouse worked on his game without being rewarded with a major title. Despite strong floor performances and regular deep runs in televised events, that long-awaited breakthrough never arrived.

Yet within the darts world, there had long been a feeling that a title was only a matter of time. Over recent seasons, the Englishman increasingly showed he possessed the level required to challenge the very best. Where he had previously fallen short in crucial moments, he appeared far more consistent and confident in recent months.

The road to this title was not without disappointment. Woodhouse had previously experienced the pain of coming close to a European Tour title without getting over the line. That was precisely why his mental approach to this final was different.

"Ryan thought the same. It was a good chance for both of us, so I didn't want to let it pass me by. I just tried to be ultra-focused and, luckily, today I've come out on top," he continued.

While his first Players Championship title was already a major milestone, Woodhouse understands that success on a big stage often carries even greater significance.

Players Championship events are played behind closed doors, without spectators and without the pressure of television cameras. European Tour events, by contrast, take place on large stages in front of thousands of fans and under extensive television coverage.

For that reason, many players view a stage title as another important step in their development.

When asked whether this victory could unlock a new level of confidence, Woodhouse did not hesitate.

"I hope so. I've said before that I've been playing some good stuff for a while now, and this win here is absolutely massive. I don't know what to say, I'm lost for words. It's huge for me. The World Matchplay is around the corner as well, so I'm hoping the confidence can carry into that."