Taylor aims for 2022 UK Open return

By Phil Lanning

LEGEND Phil Taylor is aiming for a sensational return to the PDC in the 2022 UK Open.

The Power is making a comeback to the big stage in the first-ever World Seniors Darts event early next year, as reported on Oche yesterday.

But now the most successful player in darts history is planning to return to a major tournament at the UK Open.

Taylor would need to qualify via the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers in early 2022 and could then draw any of the big names in the tournament usually staged in Minehead.

Taylor, now 60, revealed: “I’ll be back on the practice board, taking it dead serious and taking them all on at the Seniors.

“And if it goes well, and I get back to anywhere near my old standard, I’ll probably enter the UK Open next year.

“It would be great to rattle a few cages again. I would love to see the look on a few people’s faces if they landed me in the draw.”

Taylor will return to competitive action for the Seniors event which will include legendary ex-World Champs John Lowe, Martin Adams, Andy Fordham, Bob Anderson, Richie Burnett, Keith Deller and Les Wallace.

He added: “This is the first project that really made me want to pick up my darts again.

“For the last few months, there has been a picture on my living room wall where there used to be a dartboard, and my oche has been stored underneath the sofa.

“But that’s all going to change now – the board and the oche are back, and I mean business.

“To be honest, when I retired, and then Covid put a stop to the exhibition nights, I thought that was it – Phil Taylor, darts career, the end.

“Most people probably start thinking about winding down when they reach 60, but the chance to become a world champion again has given me a new lease of life.

“I’m not saying I was becoming bored with life, because I’ve always kept myself busy. But this has given me a new reason to get up in the morning, something to aim for, a new focus.

“Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry are still playing competitive snooker, and Tom Watson and Ian Woosnam are still playing competitive golf on their senior tours – so why shouldn’t we have a senior darts circuit for old fogeys like me?

“Of course, there is a whole crop of younger players out there who are taking darts to a new level, but some of the world’s best players are over 50 and the field at the Seniors will be world-class.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.