TAYLOR IN DOUBLE TOP SHAPE FOR CRACK AT PREM
PHIL TAYLOR has been saved from a HEART ATTACK by glamorous nutritionist Laura Church.
The arrows legend begins his campaign to win the Premier League tomorrow for the sixth time since it started eight years ago.
Taylor is the greatest darts player of all time, but his reign as the oche’s answer to Muhammad Ali was rocked when Mark Webster beat him at last month’s world championships.
Laura, who is one of the country’s top nutritionists and has been romantically linked with Taylor, has helped him shed 16lbs since his shock Ally Pally panning.
Fry-ups and beer have been replaced by healthy grub – and Taylor ended more than a month on the wagon by allowing himself a small vodka last weekend.
“The Power” has shrunk from 17st 11lb to 16st 9lb in weeks and Church said: “I told him he’d end up with a heart attack or diabetic unless he did something. He was walking up the stairs to do an interview and he was out of breath.”
The 15-times world champ and Laura are now making a TV documentary charting his progress from tub o’ lard to lean, mean throwing machine.
Taylor, 51, now eats five protein-packed meals a day.
He told Midweek Sport: “I got over the world championship loss in about five minutes.
“I know exactly what I did wrong and how to put it right so I’m back in the gym and eating healthy.
“Already I’m more alert physically and mentally.”
Marathon
Taylor insists he’ll be back to his very best when he clashes with world champion Adrian Lewis on the Premier League’s opening night at Manchester’s MEN Arena.
Stoke’s Taylor, who is bookies’ favourite to land the £150,000 winner’s prize, added: “This is the one to bounce back in and show there’s plenty left.
“The Premier League is as great as the world championships. It’s a marathon and you win it by being at your best for three or four months, not one week.
“I’ll still practise every day, but for my age I don’t go mad. There’s not much I can do really and a lot of my work will be done in the gym.”
After Taylor suffered his embarrassing exit at the world championships, he explored every avenue to discover his form – and even considered eye surgery.
He wore glasses for a tournament in 2010, but quickly binned the goggles after a loss against Ted Hankey.
Taylor said: “I went to the London eye clinic to see if anything could be done.
“For long distance I was above average and my shortsightedness for reading has deterioriated, but it does for everybody as they get older. There was nothing they could really do for me as there’s nothing wrong with my long-sightedness. “That again comes down to not eating properly and not having your blood sugar level right.”
Church warned the darts world: “That man is on a bloody mission.
“I’ve worked with a lot of people and Phil has got the strongest mind I’ve ever known.” PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK ONE: Andy Hamilton v James Wade, Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld, Kevin Painter v Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor.