Phil Taylor to undergo hip surgery to extend his career

Phil Taylor has promised a “different” version of himself as he prepares to undergo hip surgery to extend his career.

The ‘Power’ has also committed to playing in the World Darts Seniors Championships for the next two years, hoping to improve on his quarter-final performance in the inaugural event in 2022.

Taylor, a 16-time world champion, was knocked out in the last eight of the 2023 World Seniors by Richie Howson, despite having laser treatment to correct his vision. Taylor was given a scare in the first round when he fell behind 2-1 to Colin McGarry before charging back to win the decisive set 3-2.

The 62-year-old then defeated Darren Johnson 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. Taylor maintained his momentum against Howson with a faultless first set, but his opponent came charging back to win the match 3-1.

Taylor is in his second year on the seniors’ circuit, having reached the finals of the Masters and Matchplay tournaments last year. It’s given me something to look forward to, something to get up in the morning and practise for,” Taylor said after re-signing with the World Darts Seniors Championship until at least 2024.

“I’m having a new hip in July as I’ve got a couple of months spare, so I can recuperate and get ready,” 

“It will be a different me because when your hips goes you end up with back ache and you can’t stand properly, you can’t walk properly, so I’m really looking forward to this.

“I’ve had an injection so I’m pain free now for at least a couple of months anyway, and then I can get it done. I’m not producing half of what I can and everyone knows that so I’ve got to work at it, I know what I’m doing wrong so I’ve just got to work at it now.”

“Now we know it’s a secure tour. I can still play darts, I’ve just got to work harder at it now.”

“I’m putting myself under too much pressure, I’m thinking about it, I didn’t think about it before,” he admitted.

“Now that I’m older, I think I’m getting too much respect for people and before I didn’t have any respect, I wasn’t interested in how good they were. But now I’m giving people respect, it’s just a mental thing really.”

“You’re better off knowing who you’re playing so you can mentally prepare yourself better,” he said. “But when you don’t know who you’re playing it’s a lot tougher, I’ll be nervous.”