Phil Taylor's announced comeback has left Vincent van der Voort with mixed feelings. The 16-time world champion will return to competitive action in November, pairing up with Adrian Lewis at the MODUS Super Series. Van der Voort is pleased to see the two English greats reunited, but fears Taylor could damage his own legacy.
Taylor is now 66 and has barely played competitively in recent times. He also underwent hip surgery. That last point makes Van der Voort curious about the level "The Power" can produce on his return. "He's had a hip operation, so his stance will be very different. Then you have to train your socks off to reach a respectable level. He can do whatever he wants, of course, it's his career and life," Van der Voort said on the Darts Draait Door podcast. "But I'd find it a shame if he's back throwing 74 or 78 average there, like on the Seniors Tour. You'd be thinking: what are you doing, man?"
Van der Voort mainly points to the gap between Taylor and players who still compete week in, week out. The Dutchman fears the legendary Englishman could run into serious trouble against those opponents. "That would be damaging to Taylor's image and I'd be sorry to see it happen. But maybe he'll play brilliantly. However, he has to play five or six days in a row, which is a lot. We'll see, I just hope he plays well."
Taylor's return gains extra sparkle because he is teaming up with Lewis. The two have known each other for many years and previously formed England's team. Lewis himself has already made his own return to the oche. For Van der Voort, it goes without saying that Taylor decides how to shape his career. His reservations lie mainly in whether a comeback at an advanced age still does justice to the imposing status Taylor built over his career.
Van der Voort has ended his own professional darts career, but does not rule out a similar one-off in future. The right opportunity would need to arise. A pairs week with Raymond van Barneveld could tempt him, although the five-time world champion would first have to end his own career by then. "With Raymond van Barneveld I would consider it, once he has retired. But I'd first have to see what my level is, because I'm not going there to lose to everyone. With Raymond it would also be a fun week, we know each other so well after all these years. Stick on some Jiskefet together and we'll get through the week."
