AUSTRALIAN star Simon Whitlock has joined the PDC and will also return to the Dartplayers Australia circuit in 2009.
Whitlock, 40, has established himself as one of the top players in Australia since winning the Oceanic Masters in 2002, earning him a place in the PDC World Championship that year.
He reached the third round at the Circus Tavern and has since competed on five occasions in the Lakeside Championship, reaching the final in 2008.
He was a quarter-finalist at the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts last November, losing to Phil Taylor, and reached the semi-finals at the 2005 and 2006 International Darts League.
Whitlock's move means he will also compete on the DPA circuit in Australia, in his bid to win a place in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in December.
The Queenslander will return to action Down Under in May and is planning to begin his challenge on the PDC circuit at the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic this summer.
"The best players are in the PDC and I want to play against the best all the time," said Whitlock.
"I feel there are more opportunities in the PDC now and I want to better my game, to go to a new level and win major titles.
"I really enjoyed the Grand Slam last year, it's the kind of event I want to be involved in."
Whitlock is considering moving to the UK later this year on a full-time basis, with the option of moving to Stoke and practising alongside 14-time World Champion Phil Taylor.
Whitlock's decision to switch to the PDC circuit follows the moves of Mark Webster - who defeated him in the 2008 Lakeside final - and Gary Anderson earlier this year.