Lloyd urges PDC Women's Series entrants to grasp opportunity: "If I'd had these opportunities, I would have tried to find the money"

There will be a total of £60,000 in Prize money alongside spots in the PDC World Championship and Grand Slam of Darts as the PDC Women's Series returns this weekend and Colin Lloyd has urged players to grasp the opportunity presented.

Lloyd said that if he had the opportunities the ladies are getting at the start of his career, he would find a way to go.

"You only have to look at last year's qualifiers - it was absolutely fantastic," Lloyd told the Darts Show podcast.

"There was a fabulous turn-out of ladies - ladies that are already experienced with playing big time darts, and young ladies that want some of what the senior players have done over the past few years.

"Yes it is not cheap to play in these qualifiers, but there is some good money up for grabs, and there's a World Championship place and a Grand Slam place up for grabs.

"There is an opportunity there, an opportunity to play on the biggest stage in the world, and to play in the Grand Slam. It is a fantastic opportunity for ladies' darts. The PDC have stepped up to the plate and said: 'Listen, we can give it a go'.

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"Me personally, years ago on the men's side of things, if I'd had these opportunities, I would have tried to find the money somewhere.

"At the end of the day an individual has to do what they feel is beneficial for themselves, but then if things don't pan out, the PDC is a business.

"They can turn around and say: 'Listen, we tried. It hasn't worked out, we're knocking it on the head'. That could happen."

"It's the nature of the beast. You look at the entries there and you think: 'Is it really worth me going?'

"If you have got dreams and desires of being a professional darts player, and you want to travel the world playing darts, getting into TV events, yes it is!

"Get that negativity out of your head, get some positivity in your game. It is about stepping up to the plate. What these ladies have got to think about as well, is the exposure they will get as well.