BEWDLEY darts player Luke Woodhouse has had a whirlwind start to 2018.

The 29-year-old won his two-year pro tour card with a string of eye-catching showings in January and quickly followed that by qualifying for the first PDC European Tour event in Leverkusen, Germany, on March 25.

Throw in a close run contest against world number one Michael Van Gerwin in Barnsley at the start of February and it's clear 'Woody' is starting to make waves.

Despite juggling a full-time job as well as having two young children, Imogen and Rueben, with wife Chloe, he is hoping to continue his impressive progress as the year goes on.

He said: "Getting my tour card was massive.

"I've been playing seriously for 10 or 11 years and got into it thanks to my nan and grandad when I was just three.

"I feel like I'm improving all the time and just want to continue that now. My main goal is to get into the top 64 to keep my pro tour place.

"I practice two or three hours each day but would like to fit in more."

On his recent defeat against Van Gerwin, he said: "I had the chances to win the game but didn't take them. It's hard to take at the time but I'm going to take the positives from it.

"I also beat Terry Jenkins and Alan Norris before that, so there is a lot of things to build on.

"I'm looking forward to Germany and thanks to my management team, Darting Promotions, I can just go there and concentrate on my game."