Phil Taylor makes 'fish out of water' admission as he takes up new role after darts
Phil Taylor makes 'fish out of water' admission as he takes up new role after darts
Phil Taylor retired from professional darts in May of this year, and the 16-time world champion has now opened up on his transition into presenting as he prepares to pick up the mic once again
Darts hero Phil Taylor has opened up about his newfound role as a presenter
(Image: WireImage for Pluto TV )
Darts legend Phil Taylor has confessed that he feels like a 'fish out of water' in his newfound role as a presenter.
The Power, revered as the best player to ever to throw a piece of tungsten and holder of an astonishing 87 major PDC titles, retired from professional darts this May. Known for his unmatched record at both the Ally Pally, where he clinched 16 victories, and the World Matchplay, Taylor hung up his arrows professionally in 2018 at 57 and stuck to playing exhibitions.
Four years on, he entered the World Seniors Darts Championship only to realise his prowess wasn't quite what it used to be, which led to his definitive retirement last month.
Taylor has traded his trusted darts for presenting duties, candidly sharing his initial struggles with the transition ahead of the World Seniors Darts Champion of Champions event scheduled for Sunday, June 29.
"I'm like a fish out of water at the minute, so I'm still learning," admitted Taylor during the build-up to the World Seniors Darts Bet Goodwin Champion of Champions, broadcast live and free on Pluto TV. "I've got to take my hat off to these commentators.
"If it were a football match, I wouldn't have a clue who's passing the ball or playing for which team! I wouldn't even know who's on whose side. It's remarkable what they do.
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"Every time I present, I'm learning. I will get used to it, but it's like an apprenticeship, I think. So you've got to do your apprenticeship and learn your job. I'll keep pushing forward and learn. But I am enjoying it.
Taylor waved the oche goodbye in May
(Image: PA )
"There's no pressure, obviously. I haven't got to get up and start practising and make sure I'm getting ready for nighttime and all that kind of thing, so I can just relax and enjoy it."
Taylor made a brief appearance on the World Seniors Tour before deciding to retire from competitive darts last month, acknowledging he didn't want to let down fans with subpar performances, reports the Mirror.
"I was really, really looking forward to it. Loved the idea of the Seniors Darts. Enjoyed playing in it. But I couldn't perform like Phil Taylor could perform," he confessed. "So it broke my heart a little bit.
"My body had changed. I mean, I'm 65 this year. So I was in my 60s. It got harder and harder for me, and I couldn't perform. And people were paying money to come and see me. It broke my heart not to perform like I can. And I thought, 'I can't do this anymore. This is not right. If I do something, I have to do it properly.' I'm a bit of a perfectionist.
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"People were paying good money to come and see me. Getting taxis, paying prices for whatever they charge for beers and food and this, that and the other. And I can't give them a show. So, no. I'd had my time. It was time to walk away then.
"I haven't even got a set of darts now. Or a dartboard," Taylor went on. "I've got a dartboard in the back room. But it's still in the box. I was so dedicated and everything. But I can't do it now.
"So, I do other things. I see my grandkids a lot more. And the best thing in the world is staying and sleeping in your own bed. Which I'd not done for 30 years and I love it."
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