I genuinely have no idea what your average 63-year-old North American does on a daily basis. Most are probably arguing with strangers on Facebook about whether Waffle House or IHOP sell the best pancakes.

But for Gary Mawson, life is rather different. I doubt many people his age can say they are about to perform on the iconic Madison Square Garden stage. Instead of gobbling down a corn dogs while sitting pitchside at a hockey match, the Canadian-born Floridian will be one of eight lads from his continent taking on the PDC’s elite at the upcoming US Masters.

How did he manage that I hear you ask? Well basically, because he is very good at darts and can’t stand corn dogs. Hailing from Canada, it would be almost sacrilegious to even suggest he doesn’t like Ice Hockey given that most kids there come out the womb holding a puck. The other half are born apologising for things which aren’t remotely their fault. Lovely people, Canadians. Essentially Americans with access to many more lakes.

Host to the CDC over the weekend was Pennsylvania – known as the Keystone State. Not because of some Harry Potter reference but due to its steeped American history where the declaration of independence was signed. Which, judging by modern social media, was perhaps the last time everybody agreed on anything. And forget visiting Liberty Bell, for this lot, they are more likely to be sniffing around Taco Bell.

And in Philadelphia – the city of brotherly love – none was shown by Gary Mawson has he defied chronology and defeated US World Cup of Darts representative, Adam Sevada in a nervy last leg shooter to seal his place at the upcoming US Masters. The Reaper will be there anyway due to amassing enough points. But he probably had designs on cloning himself and having two throws at the basket at MSG. Didn’t happen. Wouldn’t have anyway because firstly he lost and secondly, as a planet, we’ve only managed to clone sheep so far – and they’re absolutely crap at darts.

Just to make The Mauler feel ever older, he will be part of a field where a certain Luke Littler is below a third of his age. Should he draw the PDC World Champ, it would be like Lassie taking on a puppy. But a puppy who is pretty darn good at chucking pieces of tungsten and one who has earnt enough money to purchase the farm Lassie lives on.

So congrats to Mawson, he joins Leonard Gates after the Texan qualified earlier in the year and chilled with his feet up for this event. Those hailing from the Lone Star state are generally very friendly people – with most natives owning at least seventeen hats and the unique ability to barbecue an entire cow before breakfast.

When Leonard isn’t dancing around the stage like Dimitri Van den Bergh – albeit with considerably more soulful choreography – he is chucking some pretty mean arrows. There is enough rhythm in the man to power an entire Motown reunion concert. Anyway, once he had completed his full repertoire, he defeated Canada’s greatest export since Labatt’s Lager, John Part, to claim the title.

At 55-years old, Gates is by far no spring chicken himself, but the San Antonian has plenty more gas in the tank. As for Part, always great to see him playing well and gives Gary Mawson someone to reminisce about the Civil War with on tour given their lengthy time spent on this spinning rock. Between them they have probably witnessed every dart barrel design ever invented and several species becoming extinct.

Moving into the second of the double-header in Philly and it was a famous name in darts, Young who claimed the honours. Not the well-known Darin – but Danny who proudly stood pointing to his trophy for the official photograph as if direction to the silverware was really required.

The American made it a clean sweep for the Yanks giving them bragging rights over their neighbours Canada who given their relaxed demeanour, were too busy pouring maple syrup over everything, talking hockey amongst themselves and not overly fussed. Defeat is much easier to stomach when a national stereotype involves saying sorry to furniture after walking into it. Quite the contrast to how Cameron Menzies treats such items.

It’s the World Cup next up for four of the chaps. Adam Sevada will team up with Stowe Buntz who dresses like a Christmas Tree after it’s been slapped by a rainbow. Which, to be fair, is still considerably less dazzling than some American sports uniforms that appear to have been designed by a colour-blind toddler with access to industrial paint.

For team Canada, it’s PDC tour card holder, Jim Long and David Cameron who shares the misfortune of sharing the same name with a dreadful former British Prime Minister. That said, you have to go back to Winston Churchill to find a decent one and there is no one going by that name on the CDC Tour. But they do have a Fred Krueger who had a bit of a nightmare this weekend.