Taylor beat Raymond van Barneveld to win his 14th world title in January
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Darts promoter Barry Hearn believes Phil Taylor has had the same impact on darts as Tiger Woods has on golf.
Hearn believes the 48-year-old's constant success over the past 20 years has made him a household name in sport.
In a recent trip to Los Angeles to stay with singer Robbie Williams, Taylor said he was surprised to be signing more autographs than his close friend.
Hearn told BBC Radio Stoke: "Every game needs a flag bearer. Golf needs Tiger Woods, and darts needs Phil Taylor."
Hearn also said Taylor is a credit to his country and is only just starting to get the recognition that three decades of top-class performances deserves.
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We're lucky people to be able to see someone get as near to perfection as you can honestly ask a human to achieve
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He added: "We should appreciate what we've got because he won't be around forever, we're lucky people to be able to see someone get as near to perfection as you can honestly ask a human to achieve."
Hearn disagrees that Taylor's haul of 14 world titles has made the sport boring.
"If you ask a golfer if Tiger Woods is 10 shots in front, would you watch the last hole he played - the answer is a resounding 'yes'.
"Taylor has made everyone else work harder to beat him and that is why we are seeing numbers and averages that we have never seen before.
"All these people coming to watch Phil are almost coming to pay homage to a legend."
The opening fixture of the Premier League, which takes place on in Liverpool on Thursday, will be a repeat of the PDC World Championship final between Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
Hearn said: "We wanted to give the fans a big opening game and they deserve the biggest one."
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