PRODIGAL TON
SOME are born great, some achieve greatness, others have greatness thrust upon them – but Phil Taylor is the greatest. Between now and Detox Day, Taylor will not just bring the curtain down on the longest-running success story in British sport since the 29 years which spanned Lester Pigott’s nine winning rides
in the Derby.
‘The Power’ will be leaving a black hole in the grid where his arrows have located the bullseye across the reigns of six Prime Ministers.
After winning a record 16 world titles – that’s more Majors than Tiger Woods, more League titles than Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish won between them at Liverpool – Taylor’s astonishing feat of longevity is unrivalled in modern professional sport.
When he won the first as a 125-1 rank outsider in 1990, upsetting his mentor Eric Bristow in the final, Sir Alex Ferguson had yet to land his first Manchester United trophy.
Now, at 57, Taylor is within sight of the chequered flag, his final checkout. Only Tom Watson, who missed a putt to win The Open at Turnberry in 2009, has defied Father Time for longer at the highest level of sport.
And what does Taylor give himself as a mark out of 10 for his efforts on the oche? Seven. That’s right – a lousy seven. He’s having a laugh – isn’t he? “Seriously – I lost four finals at the world championship,” he said.
“There are a few things I lost which I shouldn’t have done when I was lazy. I got fed up with it sometimes, CORONATION STREET star Kym Marsh has revealed why she is Phil Taylor’s main celebrity cheerleader.
Eight years ago, ‘The Power’ made a guest appearance on the cobbles as ‘Disco Dave’ – the star player from rival boozer the Flying Horse, who take on the Rovers Return at darts.
But they struck up a friendship as chat-show guests back in 2003, when Kym’s parents – who are “massive” darts fans – were in the audience. bored like you do with any job. You could be making a million pounds a week but you still get bored if you’re doing the same things all the time.
“Regrets? I’ve had a few – I would have loved to win the sudden-death final with Barney van Barneveld in 2007, and I shouldn’t have lost one to John Part. I thought I had Gary Anderson as well when I came back to 6-6 (in 2015). I thought, ‘I’ve got you now’ – but he got me instead.
“But I’ve done all right. The world is a dangerous place and I’ve had a nice fanbase without much of the hassle. I’ve seen some of the celebrities and their lives aren’t that good.” Whether Taylor is knocked out in the first round of the William Hill PDC world championship tomorrow night by promising Geordie Chris Dobey, or bows
out in fairytale fashion with a 17th crown, there will be tears.
The Power doesn’t do truly, madly, weepy on stage – but he admits the end of an era may feel like a “bereavement” when the enormity of superannuation kicks in.
“I was all right when I won the World Matchplay in July (the other major he has won an incredible 16 times). You come to terms with it. I might feel it a week later when it sinks in, but I haven’t retired before, so I don’t know.
“I’m a teary b***er, it might happen. But even if I win another title at Ally Pally, there’s not even a one per cent chance of me coming back to defend it next year. No, no, no, no... that would put a black mark against my career. It’s the end – this is it.’’
Taylor leaves the tungsten circus in rude health financially: his first pay cheque when he conquered Bristow nearly 28 years ago was £24,000 – the champion crowned on New Year’s Day will trouser £400,000. Kym (right, in
2004) said: “We met years ago when he appeared on the
Frank Skinner show on
TV and I was a guest the same night.
“My mum and dad got chatting to Phil backstage and we all got along like a house on fire.
“I’ve been mates with him ever since. I’ve watched Phil play several times and more than once he’s given me his winning match dart.”