FORMER UK Open finalist Gary Mawson plans to quit the US and move to Bolton in a bid to further his darting career.

The 50-year-old Canadian, who has family in the area, has said travelling costs to and from his home in Ohio have become difficult to manage.

His most recent visit ended in disappointment, as he exited last weekend’s televised tournament at the Reebok in the first round to Gilbraltar’s Dylan Duo.

But he is hoping for greater success next year, as he bids to put all his efforts into increasing his world ranking on the tour event, which takes in events in the UK, Ireland, Holland and Germany.

“I want to base myself over here and really go for it,” he said. “My tour card is coming up at the end of the year, so I want to be playing on that.

“The travelling really takes it out of you because the majority of the tournaments are over here in Europe. I’ve probably been home in the US for three weeks in the last three months.

“There’s a real strain on your pockets too, and while I’ve got some great sponsors in Unicorn and Joseph Holt’s brewery, I really think I owe it to myself to be based here and really go for the tour.”