HUMPHRIES CREDITS GOLF FOR SPARKING STUNNING RETURN TO FORM

LUKE HUMPHRIES believes time on the golf course has helped spark his return to form after clinching Players Championship 17 in sensational style. 

Cool Hand clinched his THIRD ProTour title of the season after defeating Jermaine Wattimena 8-4 in the final. 

The Cheshire thrower dumped out top seed Wessel Nijman 6-3 in the quarter-finals before averaging 102.88 in a superb 7-3 victory over Danny Noppert in the last four.

The world No.2 was brilliant throughout the day, producing a blistering 112.18 average to cruise past Rhys Griffin 6-3 in his opening match. He then fired in another ton-plus average to dispatch Yorick Hofkens 6-1 in the last 64.

Humphries continued his dominant run by averaging a huge 109.11 in a crushing 6-2 win over Justin Hood in the last 32 before posting a 105.64 average to see off Christian Kist by the same scoreline in round four. 

The former world champ admitted 2026 has not always gone to plan and recently changing back to his old darts setup has helped spark an upturn in form. 

He said: “It’s not been my year in many aspects. There have been many moments and Premier League nights where it has just not been going my way. 

“It has felt hard work. Then everyone knows I changed back to my old points and flights. Now look how it is going for me again. 

“The problem for this year is why change what is not broken. I am always trying to better myself. 

“Maybe I can better myself with the equipment I am using.” 

Humphries believes his recent displays have put him in strong contention heading into finals night at the O2. 

He added: “The way I am playing in the Premier League the last three nights, I know I have one of them. 

“I have had a couple of close ones with Luke. I played really good today. It has kept me in good stead for the O2. 

“For me to have just crept in and go back-to-back champion, that would really whet the appetite.”

Humphries also revealed getting away from darts and spending time at the driving range has helped him mentally. 

Humphries continued: “I managed to get there on Friday. I think that is something that has helped me a little bit. 

“You have a round of golf here and there. I used to be skeptical about doing it because I didn’t want injuries or to do anything to hinder your performances. 

“You can live like that for the whole of your life. I don’t do it the day before I play, but if you have a couple of days off I tend to have a round. 

“It’s not doing me any harm so I will keep on doing that.” 

Humphries believes his display showed the level he is capable of producing on a regular basis. 

He said: “I said to my family members it is just one of those days where it clicks for me. I think everyone sees I am definitely one of the best players in the world.

“I think that is obvious but it just sets the standard for myself. What people saw today, they know I can do that a lot more. 

“It is just up to me to produce it a lot more, that is the problem. 

“As soon as I walked into that first game against Rhys, my first leg hit the standard. The second leg was good, I missed a couple of doubles. 

“Then I hit four 11-darters on the trot. I just carried it on and I remember parts of the day where I felt like I couldn’t miss. 

“That is always a dangerous person when you feel like that. 

“When you beat Wessel in this environment and room, he is the best player in the world. 

“Me and Luke [Littler] are probably not because he is the king of being here and knowing what to do.”

Elsewhere, Dimitri Van den Bergh put a difficult campaign behind him by reaching the last 16 before suffering a 6-2 defeat to Jermaine Wattimena. 

Gian van Veen was whitewashed 6-0 by Andrew Gilding in round three. 

Pero Ljubic registered the lowest average by any Tour Card holder so far this year after posting just 57.78 in a 6-0 first-round defeat to Ryan Searle. 

Meanwhile, Raymond van Barneveld crashed out at the first hurdle after a dramatic 6-5 loss to Marvin Kraft in round one. 

The five-time world champion recently revealed he plans to take a break from the sport until September, aside from a handful of events, as he battles a worrying slump in form.

Image by Taylor Lanning.