Mathers on Whitlock impact: "Without him, I don’t think the World Series would have been a thing in Australia"

Gordon Mathers will return home to play for the first time since becoming a PDC Tour Card Holder with 'GG' set to play alongside Damon Heta, Simon Whitlock and other local qualifiers during the World Series of Darts.

It all kicks off this weekend with the Queensland Darts Masters and he hopes that he can take his ProTour experience onto the stage.

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“I have never played my best game on stage, and that’s what I intend to do after being given these three opportunities,” said Mathers.

“With all the experience I have gained on the Pro Tour, hopefully I can deliver my best game on the TV to show the world what I can do.

“I don’t feel the outside pressure. I wear my heart on my sleeve and my biggest pressure is from within.”

But for Mathers, he is looking forward to returning home to see his family despite having no regrets about his move over to the UK.

“It’s been second to none being on the Pro Tour with all the great players there at the moment,” added Mathers.

“I am missing the family immensely, not just my wife and children but my three brothers and sister.

“I come from a close-knit family so it’s been pretty hard, but I have no other regrets.

“We will see where we end up after the next six months.”

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Whitlock impact

But for Mathers who suddenly sealed a Tour Card at Q-School amid the COVID-19 pandemic and issues with flights has Simon Whitlock and his family as well as Corrine Hammond to thank for helping him.

“Without Simon, I would not be here,” Mathers admitted.

“I would have had to go back home and get on the grind 9-5.

“For the first nine months to have him, his son Mason, and Corrine Hammond - they helped me no end.

“Simon took me under his wing, offered up a bedroom and said that’s yours whenever you want it.

“When the family came over for six months I moved out, but when they went back there was no hesitation from Simon to say you can have your old room back.”

As well as a room at his house, Mathers also sees Whitlock as the reason he got through Q-School as well as the success of the World Series.

“After the 2020 World Championship he changed the points in my darts, got me practising right, and without that I honestly don’t believe I would have got through Q-School,” added the Brisbane ace.

“I owe him everything for what he has done for me over the past two years.

“I have always said Simon is our best ever darts export from Australia.

“Without him, I don’t think the World Series would have been a thing in Australia.”