PDC: Dart Player Gary Anderson Dropped Out of Masters

Gary Anderson, the Flying Scotsman, would the Masters because he has undergone further treatment for a chronic back complaint. The news was confirmed by the PDC. Anderson’s claims that even light practice causes intense pain are a major concern. It may well put his Premier League place in doubt.

It’s well documented that playing in the Premier League is an intense experience. Gerwyn Price is a more recent example of the draining effect the weekly tour can have. Anderson himself has spoken about the rigours of playing on stages in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands on a regular basis. The PDC and Sky may have to face the two-time Premier League winner’s withdrawal from the 2019 event.

Should the popular Scot make way, who could step in and replace him?

One of the names immediately in the frame would be Glen Durrant. There was plenty of buzz surrounding his potential inclusion before the original announcement. Barry Hearn quickly quashed the rumours, stating that only a PDC Tour Card holder could play in the Premier League. Since that time, Durrant has won the Lakeside title for a third consecutive time, and earned his Tour Card through Q-School. If he were to be included, it’d be one almighty baptism of fire as he starts his PDC journey.

Simon Whitlock will have felt aggrieved that he didn’t get an invite in the first place. Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price, both relegated – something Whitlock was in absolutely no danger of – are back again in 2019. Raymond van Barneveld’s inclusion means that Whitlock is the only member of the Order of Merit’s top ten who was snubbed. It is true that the Wizard wasn’t able to weave his magic on the big stage last season. Defeat to Ryan Joyce at the Alexandra Palace may have been his tipping point. But if a spot becomes available in the Premier League again, few would begrudge the Aussie taking it.

The PDC is constantly championing its young talent, and there are plenty of prodigies who’d leap at the chance of a Premier League berth. Dimitri van den Bergh is always in the mix. Other dark horses would be Jeffrey de Zwaan, Luke Humphries or PDC Young Player of the Year Max Hopp. The latter would be a massive boost of the PDC’s hopes of piquing German interest. Nathan Aspinall made the semi-finals of the World Championship and also won on the floor, so has pedigree. The call would probably come a bit early for the Asp.

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