The world number one has enjoyed a brilliant start to the Premier League season, hitting two 112-plus averages and a nine-darter in an unbeaten opening three weeks.
However, he raised the bar even further by averaging 117.35 - the second-highest ever on television and a record in the Premier League - as he powered to victory against Whitlock.
Taylor began the game with a break of throw, finishing 64 for a 15-dart leg, before following up a 180 with a 99 checkout in doubling his lead.
Whitlock finished 77 on tops to get off the mark in the third leg, but Taylor landed a second maximum and finished 71 to win the next for a 3-1 cushion.
The pair traded double eight finishes for 14-dart legs in the next two, and after Whitlock posted a 180 and double two to win the seventh the duo traded 11-darters as Taylor moved 5-4 up.
Although Whitlock had pulled back to within touching distance of the world number one, he was left little chance as Taylor hit top gear to win the next three.
He firstly posted a ten-dart finish courtesy of scores of 140, 180, 165 and double eight, before finishing an 11-darter after Whitlock had missed double 16 for a 132 combination.
Taylor then completed victory with another 11-dart leg, taking out 90 with bullseye and double top, to secure a record-breaking average and a third successive victory this season.
"I'm delighted," said Taylor. "Simon played really well and pushed me, and those are the types of game where you get these high averages and nine-darters.
"The main thing was to win and 8-4 shows how much of a contest the game was - but I'm going to try to improve it and I think I can get another two or three points on my average."
Whitlock said: "Phil was fantastic. I thought I played really well and I didn't do a lot wrong and I enjoyed the match, but he was sensational."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.