LITTLER ADMITS GIRLFRIEND BIRTHDAY BLUNDER

By Phil Lanning

LUKE LITTLER won the World Masters for his girlfriend…after he didn’t get her a birthday present!

The teen sensation struggled for time to get Faith a gift on her big day as he prepared for a hectic Sunday with three clashes at Arena MK.

But Littler, 19, was delighted to dedicate his 11th major title to her and was ready to splash some of the £100,000 jackpot to make up for it.

He revealed: “It is Faith’s birthday. I didn’t get her anything, but at least I got the trophy. We can go shopping tomorrow. It’s going to go!

“There was no pressure on me today, but there was a little bit to try and get the win for her and my family.”

For Littler it was a case of ‘if Carlsberg did Sundays’ with the ultimate triple glory with him taking a major title and Man United snatching a late win over Fulham.

He laughed: “It’s been a good Sunday. Man City dropping some points – that is up there. Very good Sunday.”

Littler wasn’t ready to dwell on his success with the Masters too long as he immediately started to look to his next targets, starting this Thursday with the Premier League which he lost to Humphries last year.

He added: “I want to win that Premier League trophy back. I want to defend what I won last year, which at the start will be a UK Open title defence.

“There is plenty more with the World Matchplay, Grand Prix and the Grand Slam. It’s a busy year for myself, but I want to go there and retain every title.”

The Premier League begins at Newcastle on Thursday night and he said: “I want to win even more nights than I did last year. I want to hit even more 180s and just try and break my own records in the Premier League.”

Littler admitted that he had run out of gas in the final with Humphries but somehow dug out a strong finish against his old rival.

But he still has his eye on a perfect nine-dart leg. He said:  “I was absolutely knackered. I didn’t expect myself to win. I just had to find the gears and go through them. If I play well and lose, I will be happy. If I play bad and lose, I will go backstage and do something I wouldn’t do on camera.

“It’s not been too bad. I didn’t pick up a dart since Saudi. Coming into the Mike De Decker game, that was very ropey at times. Just to get through that first game and go on to the second round and get a bit more practice in, this is what it leads to.”

On the nine-darter, he added: “I know it’s there. When I am warmed up I can hit 180s after 180s. I was gutted not to hit the nine this weekend because I can feel it’s there. Who knows — I can definitely feel it coming. Hopefully we see one in the Premier League.

“When I am on stage and throwing my darts, obviously the longer point sticks out more and every 180 in the treble, it has always been perfect. I just can’t seem to find it. We have to have another go in the Premier League. Depends — I’ll go off my head.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.