MENZIES ALMOST QUIT DARTS

By Phil Lanning

CAMERON MENZIES admits he has done “a lot of damage” to his hand and almost QUIT after his World Championship horror show.

The Ayrshire ace left the Ally Pally stage with blood gushing from his right hand after punching the table three times following a defeat to Charlie Manby in December. 

But Menzies, 35, beat Ritchie Edhouse 6-4 in the Poland Darts Open in Krakow on Friday afternoon and opened up for the first time on his heartbreak as he thought his career was OVER.

He admitted: “It was finally good to play well but I’ve been struggling massively. 

“I’ll be honest with you, a few times I’ve felt like wrapping it. I’m just not in a good place that way.

“Obviously what happened at the Worlds, I’ve done a lot of damage to myself. 

“Basically I’ve no feeling in my fingers anymore because of the damage I’ve done. 

“I couldn’t feel my fingers for six weeks. I had to go through surgery. I’ve still to go through hand treatment and trauma.

“I’ve made a massive mistake in my life. You can see the scar. I have to live with that. 

“I was lucky it was not as bad as what it could have been. I’m not proud of it. I’m lucky I can still play because it could have been severed. So I had to see a hand specialist. No words could explain how I felt at that time. 

“I was stupid and I have to deal with it.”

Menzies hit NINE 180s in the clash with ex-Euro Champion Edhouse but struggled on the doubles. 

He added: “It was good to go and play well. It was good to win again because it’s been a tough year. These guys and girls are all great.

“I was so close to pulling out this weekend. I’m not enjoying it at the moment. That today has given me a bit of love back. 

“I’ve hardly averaged over 75 this year. I’ve been struggling. I was nervous but good up there. But going for a double it was always hope than I’m hitting this. 

“But as soon as that first dart went in, I was getting a 180. That’s the best I’ve ever played on the Euro Tour. 

“I’ve still got a long way to go but good to play half decent again.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.