"What is the point?": Ryan Searle complains about controversial European Tour changes with hilarious response issued to Damon Heta

Ryan Searle has hit out at the sudden change of European Tour rules which see the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit exempt to the second round and the ProTour Order of Merit players have to play first round.

This was a controversial move which was seen essentially as a comfort blanket for the big names more than anything who have to play in the Premier League the night before the Friday start.

This in particular affects players like Searle who are among the top performers on the ProTour. 'Heavy Metal' is a perennial title winner and often reaches the latter stages in Players Championship tournaments.

But under this new rule, he will essentially see his hard work turned into an earlier start on European Tour weekends and less chance to earn money for the rankings in defeat. Damon Heta himself also had a hilarious response to Searle's complaints as the latter took to Facebook today to vent his frustrations.

This one year after the Order of Merit players were given free passage into the events in a bid to get the big names involved in European Tours as many were under threat of not qualifying. But now it has gone further.

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"What is the point of the ProTour Order of Merit? The one that shows the true form and consistency of players. Asking for a friend,' wrote Searle with a screenshot of the amendments.

He received a hilarious reply from Damon Heta who wrote: "Mate I thought it was a New Year New You with no complaining."

To which Searle responded saying: "You are already on the face doesn't fit blacklist so back me up." This of course linked to Damon Heta being snubbed for the Premier League with the picks being said to Matt Porter down also to commercial value.

Heta further responded to the comment from the user on X that he loves Searle. "Someone other than his family has got to."

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