PRICE SPEAKS OUT ON INJURY SETBACK

GERWYN PRICE has revealed he was struggling with BACK pain after pulling out of the Poland Masters.

‘The Iceman’ withdrew from the Euro Tour event, having been struck down and unable to prepare properly. 

But the Markham thrower returned to action on the ProTour this week and picked up the Players Championship Six title.

Price has spoken candidly about his fitness and insists he is beginning to feel back to his best.

He said: “I was under the weather and I couldn’t prepare right.

“I had to take the weekend off and see the doctor which gave me a bit of a boost. 

“I wasn’t sure what was happening. I had lower back pains and things just weren’t right.

“I took time off, chilled out and feel a little bit better.” 

World No.10 Price returned to Premier League action on Thursday evening and immediately made a statement.

The seven-time major winner averaged a stellar 100.88 and pinned a brilliant 102 checkout to edge out Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in a last-eight thriller on Night Four. 

Price’s performance against Van Gerwen showed no obvious signs of discomfort as he powered in big scores and held his nerve in a deciding-leg shootout. 

But Price was halted in the semi-finals as Gian van Veen prevailed 6-5 at Belfast.

Price currently sits fourth in the table after winning on Night Two in Antwerp. 

The former world champion is determined to surge back up the rankings and re-establish himself among the sport’s elite. 

He added: “I’m hardly defending anything. Two years ago I had the worst year I ever had in the PDC, so I am defending absolutely nothing this year.  

“Whoever is above me, I am going to catch them. If I get through the first round, I feel like I am unbeatable.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.