‘You’ve got to be crafty’ – Darts star Michael Smith told to follow Tiger Woods plan after Premier League snub
MICHEAL SMITH has been told to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods after missing out on a spot in the 2025 Premier League.
Bully Boy was snubbed for a spot in the eight-man Premier League lineup during Monday’s announcement.
The 2023 World Champ struggled for form last year and wasn’t able to live up to his usual standards amid a hectic schedule.
Smith finished fourth in last year’s Premier League, while he only won one individual event throughout the calendar year – the Player’s Championship 9.
Former PDC pro Paul Nicholson reckons that Smith’s drop off in form could be down to trying to play too much and not winning the right events.
The retired thrower has suggested that Smith pick and choose his events wisely to regain his form, claiming that missing out on the Premier League could be beneficial for his all-round game.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Nicholson said: “I’ve never questioned Michael Smith‘s work ethic ever. And I never will. But I think he does.”
Adding: “Think about Johnny Clayton. When he won the Masters, the Premier League, World Series finals, none of those were ranked.
“It was the same for Luke Littler. Won the Premier League, won the World Series finals.
“That’s what, £350,000 in non-ranking money? He had to win the Grand Slam to get in the top four.
“If he didn’t, he was going to be someone in the fringes of the top 16.
“You’ve got to be crafty in that regard.
“I actually think this is a good thing for Michael Smith because I think this is a chance for him to re-establish a time away from the Premier League, because I don’t think he should be in it.
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“Do a calendar for the year well in advance and say, ‘I’m going to these definitely’.
“Just leave a few with an asterisk against them. ‘I’ll go to these if I need to go to these’.
“This is how golfers prepare their seasons. When does Rory [McIlroy] ever play more than three weeks in a row?
“If he has to, that’s it. End of story.
“When does Tiger [Woods] start his season? At the Farmers Insurance Open.
“Why? Because he wants to make sure he’s prepped for the season and he will cherry-pick everything.
“This is what dart players are going to have to do now.
“This has come at the right time for Michael because of 34 Players’ Championships in 2025, 14 European Tours, no guarantee of Matchplay, get the schedule right, get the work ethic right and I have every faith that the top ten will be his again.”
Smith is currently 16th in the PDC Order of Merit, a drop of 14 places since his 2023 World Championship money expired from the rankings.
Smith did manage to win last year’s World Cup of Darts alongside Luke Humphries, but was still overlooked for a spot in the Premier League lineup.
Instead the PDC chose Humphries, Luke Littler, Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey.
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – The SSE Arena, Belfast – Thursday February 6
Night 2 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow – Thursday February 13
Night 3 – 3Arena, Dublin – Thursday February 20
Night 4 – Westpoint Exeter – Thursday February 27
Night 5 – The Brighton Centre – Thursday March 6
Night 6 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham – Thursday March 13
Night 7 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff – Thursday March 20
Night 8 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday March 27
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29