‘It killed everything’ – Phil Taylor reveals arthritis hell as darts legend, 63, desperately bids to bow out on a high
PHIL TAYLOR is desperate to end his final year as a darts player on a high – as he battles with painful arthritis.
The Power, 63, takes on Lakeside legend Martin Adams in the first round of the JenningsBet Champion of Champions next weekend in Blackpool on the World Seniors Darts Tour.
Last month he suffered a 3-2 defeat to German part-timer Manfred Bilderl in his last appearance at Circus Tavern at the World Seniors Darts Championship.
Taylor walked out of the Essex venue – which also doubles up as a lap-dancing club – without talking and in an angry mood.
But speaking for the first time, the 16-time world darts champion has vowed not to finish his swansong season on a shock loss.
He joked: “That match killed my leg, it killed my back, it killed everything.
“It’s awful when you’re up there and you have people cheering you on. The crowd were really noisy, the atmosphere was fantastic during my match.
“It was great to be a part of it. But to lose was terrible. I’d hated going out like that.
“I won’t go out like that. I’m desperate now to start playing properly. I’m doing everything that I can.
“Because I have arthritis in my hip, I cannot turn right, so I’m not throwing straight. I don’t know why, my darts are going over in the fives.
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“Hopefully I can shed a bit more weight and I can get rid of this pain.
“It’s a nightmare, honestly. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Even if you turn over in bed in the night you are in pain.”