HUMPHRIES GOES FOR GLASGOW GOLD!

By Phil Lanning

LUKE HUMPHRIES admits it’s a “shame” there are no Scots left in the Premier League.

The World No.1 arrives at the OVO Hydro tonight (Thursday) top of the table after his opening victory in Belfast.

Humphries, 30, has opened up recently on how much help Peter Wright gave him in his rise to the summit of the sport. For the first time in 15 years there’s no home stars in the line-up and he concedes that it won’t be the same in Glasgow without 11,000 Dartan Army fans singing for their home stars.

‘Cool Hand’ said: “I really like the Scottish people. I think they are really good. They are always up for a laugh. They are a great craic. Always create a great atmosphere.

“I am looking forward to playing there. It’s a shame there are no Scots in the Premier League. There are so many great Scots over the last ten years who have played in it.

“Unfortunately the standard has not been there from them. Gary Anderson is the only one who would have been asked. If he would have played, it would have been great.

“Of course, it’s a shame there are none of them in it. I am really looking forward to playing in Glasgow.”

The top Prem stars will also be playing for GOLD darts worth £30,000 if they hit a nine-darter, offered by title sponsors BetMGM.

He added: “I wish you hadn’t told me about that – as I probably won’t hit one! £30,000 worth of gold? Is it?

“You shouldn’t have told me that. It makes you appreciate how lucky you are. Big business. Big companies are sponsoring these events.

“BetMGM have been a massive, massive bonus for us as a sponsor. It’s like Paddy Power with the Worlds. They make the tournament better.

“It’s all a bit of fun, it’s great. We all want to win. The sponsors that the PDC have brought to the majors have made it even better I think.

“Little incentives like that, it’s very nice for them to do that. For me it’s not about the money or what they are worth. I want to win those darts for the fact it would be nice to have them in your house.

“Little things like that are really nice. I’d rather have that than £30,000 in cash.”

Humphries also became the latest sporting star to coin the phrase “stay humble” after Erling Haaland and Anthony Gordon.

He has won seven majors in 16 months but remains very level-headed.

He added: “Stay grounded. Anything can be taken away from you, at the click of a finger. You never know how long you have got in this game.

“You could break your arm. Lose form. Anything can happen. For me, I will always stay humble. I really appreciate being in the Premier League.

“Nights like these you remember, they keep the juices flowing. I love moments like these. They really make me feel good.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.