That is the verdict from former PDC chairman Barry Hearn, speaking to talkSPORT after Littler won the Premier League in his debut year in the competition.

The 17-year-old phenomenon beat World No. 1 Luke Humphries 11-7 in the final of the Premier League on a pulsating night in front of 14,000 at the O2 in London on Thursday night,

pulling out a nine-darter in the process. It continues ‘The Nuke’s meteoric rise in darts, having been an unknown last year to finishing runners-up at the World Championship earlier this year,

against Humphries at the Alexandra Palace. Much like Woods in golf, the American burst onto the scene where he became the youngest winner of The Masters at the age of 21,

while Littler is by far the youngest winner of the Premier League. And Hearn believes there are some massive similarities between the two sporting icons,

telling Andy Townsend and Jason Cundy on talkSPORT Drive: “I spoke to [Littler] about 15 minutes after his semi-final win, I was absolutely amazed. Not a trace of nerves.

“He said, ‘I am really looking forward to going out there and entertaining the people and I think I can win’, he said, ‘But if I don’t, I’ll win it next year’.

“He wasn’t putting any pressure on himself and that is a massive advantage over someone who is maybe looking to stay high in the rankings.

“I can see a lot of similarities with Tiger Woods. Everyone knew he was a good player, he suddenly arrived on the big scene and dominated and he elevated the sport to a new level.

“Some people didn’t like it because you know, who is this newcomer coming in, it doesn’t matter in professional sport, it matters how good you are.

“Darts is a level playing field, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, can you chuck a dart or not.

“People like Luke Littler are capable of doing what Tiger Woods did with golf in my view, and they will be followed by hundreds of kids who are already playing up and down the country, across the world, and realising that if you have got ability, you can make a very handsome living out of it.”

Woods is often regarded as the best golf player of all time, landing his first Major win at the age of 21 and going on to claim 15 in total, including five Masters, four PGA Championships, three US Opens and also winning The Open three times.

No one has won more PGA Tour events than the 48-year-old, who has been credited with spearheading a new revolution for golf and making it one of the biggest sports in the world.

Successful players now win huge amounts in prize money while the biggest sportswear companies are always battling to sponsor the brightest stars.

And Hearn predicts a similar explosion will happen in darts, courtesy of ‘The Nuke’.

When asked where darts will be in 10 years time, Hearn replied: “It is going to be bigger than golf.

“It is going to be the working man’s sport around the world for millions of people for a low cost of entry.

“You don’t need to join a club, you don’t need expensive equipment, you just put your dartboard up in your bedroom and you just bash the granny out of it.”

Littler’s impact on darts in the last six months has been nothing less than astronomical, ever since he reached the World Championship final where he beat Andrew Gilding, Raymond van Barneveld and Brendan Dolan before losing to Humphries in the final.

The teenager exacted his revenge in the Premier League, where he finished top of the table of a group of eight of the best darts players on the planet – including five former world champions as well as the current world champion.

Not only did he finish top, he did so in jaw-dropping fashion and no player has ever scored higher than his 40-point tally.

With the play-offs still to come to decide on a champion, Littler made light work of 2023 world champion Michael Smith before an incredible final against Humphries.

After returning to the stage following the mid-match break, Littler had the darts in his hand and sent the crowd into a frenzy when he unleashed a roof-raising nine-darter – incredibly his fourth of 2024.

It was the boost that the youngster needed, going on to take control of the tie and winning six of the last eight legs to land an 11-7 win, breaking into tears after wrapping up an astonishing campaign to date.

It has made Littler a major winner, something Woods would have to wait another four years to claim.

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Source: Los Angeles Times