Darts legend, 59, up for PDC Tour comeback as he vows never to quit sport

John Part is pondering a return to the PDC big time after vowing never to quit darts. The Canadian icon, a three-time world champion, feels he has unfinished business in the sport after losing his PDC Tour card in 2019 and then suffering a shoulder injury during the pandemic.

Part, who turned 59 last month, has had a couple of unsuccessful cracks at regaining his card at Q-School but believes he still has more to offer the game as a player, having kept his hand in with World Seniors appearances.

With his competitive spirit still strong, Part is open to having another crack at Q-School in 2026. He may have been back in business sooner had he not suffered his injury while out walking his dog during lockdown in 2020.

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“It was in the middle of 2020 and I couldn’t get it seen to,” he recalled. “By the time I got an image [X-ray], it was fine, but then I had a frozen shoulder and had to stop throwing for six months.

“I’ve been working back to it since. I’m not too sure exactly what my capabilities are. I feel like I’m improving all the time but I’m not sure what the ceiling is. I’m still working at it and we’ll find out, I suppose. I’m getting mixed bits of success here and there.”

Part, who lives in Oshawa near Toronto, will make his Q-School decision nearer the time. Given that Q-School comes shortly after the World Championship, he will have to factor in his Sky Sports punditry commitments.

“It’s a month away [from home] at the worst time of year,” added Part, who will be part of the Sky Sports team at the World Matchplay, which begins this weekend. “Sometimes, on the morale side, it’s hard to feel fresh.

“But I still have that love to play and to compete. I still enjoy it, I just wish the timing was a little different. I imagine, if I can give it a go again, I will. I like testing myself.”

On committing to the rigours of tour life again, given its expanded schedule, Part said: “I would manage that and see. Any wise person who’s just earned a card hits it hard the first couple of months, sees what returns they get and then re-evaluates and maybe picks their spots here and there.

“Obviously, if you’re not making money, you’re not whipping the horse. It was hard during my last few years when I had a card. I wasn’t making a lot of money and had a lot of expenses. It wasn’t ideal and maybe I wasn’t doing myself a favour, [not] pushing as hard as I could.

“If I did it [had a tour card] again, I’d look at it much more pragmatically and hit it hard in the initial stages, just to see. Things like getting in the World Cup, potentially, representing your country, are exciting. I’ve done it a bunch of times but it never gets boring.

“A tour card would get me into the UK Open, which I’ve always enjoyed. I wouldn’t mind these opportunities as like a ‘last song tour’. But I don’t think I’ll ever quit for real.”