THE POWERS TOUR DOWNUNDER 2012

PHIL "THE POWER TAYLOR" TO COMPETE IN THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN AS WELL AS THE DPA AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

PHIL TAYLOR is to visit Australia this August for a special tour which will see him compete in the Local Liquor Australian Open Festival of Darts on the Gold Coast.

The 15-time World Champion will be travelling Down Under for the first time as part of the visit to support DartPlayers Australia's biggest week of the year.

The DPA's Australian Open Festival of Darts will be held at the Robina Community Centre on the Gold Coast from August 15-19, and preceded by an Australian Grand Prix double-header at the Gold Coast Darts Club in Nerang.

Following the Nerang events, Taylor will compete on Friday August 17 in the AGP event in Robina, and in Saturday's DPA Tournament of Champions, which will follow an Australia v New Zealand Test Match.

Taylor will also take part in the Local Liquor DPA Australian Open on Sunday August 19, before travelling to Melbourne and Adelaide for exhibitions on August 21 and 23 respectively hosted in Melbourne by Team Rebel and in the Famous Wine Region of the Barossa Valley South Australia by DPA TV.

"I'm really excited about this visit," said Taylor. "It's not very often that we're given the opportunity to enjoy a tour like this and I've never visited Australia so, on a personal level, I can't wait.

"Darts in Australia has been growing massively with the DPA in recent years, and Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson have been brilliant ambassadors for the sport there.

"With Fox Sports showing our tournaments live, more fans than ever are watching the events Down Under so I'm looking forward to going there.

The Australian Open Festival of Darts is one of the highlights of the DPA calendar, alongside October's Oceanic Masters, and forms one of 16 weekends of action on the Australian circuit.

"It will be wonderful to have Phil on our shores to compete in DPA events for the first time," said DartPlayers Australia chief executive Rob Denny.

"As well as the growth of the DPA circuit in recent years, the live coverage of PDC tournaments on Fox Sports - including the recent Cash Converters World Cup where Australia reached the final and the current McCoy's Premier League - means that the sport is more popular than ever.

"Phil's tour in August will give Australian fans the chance to see the most successful player ever in darts up close and personal, and our players will also get the chance to test themselves against the best.

"It's an exciting time for us all and we're looking forward to welcoming Phil to Australia."

Phil Will be joined on tour in Australia by the Voice Russ Bray

"This will be my 4th trip to Australia with Dartplayers Australia Australia is a great place to visit" Stated Bray

"I'm Looking forward to getting down there and spending the week with Phil at Australias biggest week of darts"

"I't has taken many months of planning to have Phil Taylor visit Australia" commented Chairman Kevin Berlyn "Phil is the best player ever..

To give ALL Australian players the opportunity to meet the man as well as the chance to compete against Phil is every Australian players dream...

The DPA are very happy to give all Australian and New Zealand players this opportunity"