In this particular PDC season, we’ve seemed to witness an influx of Tommy’s – or at least variations of the name.
So much so that, given what could be considered a plural of that appellation, ‘Tommies’ being a slang term for British soldiers, you could say we have a platoon of them.
On the Pro Tour this year, we’ve already had Lovely, Lishman (the comma acting as very relevant there), as well as Bissell and Sykes. But in this article, we are focusing on the other one – Mr Tommy Morris.
Nicknamed The Gun for weapon-related reasons – in the same way I guess you’d give someone called Uzi the moniker of ‘Nine Millimetre’, – Morris currently sits fifth on the PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit and has earned a call-up to the Pro Tour on all but one occasion this season.
Having been around the PDC scene for half a decade and endured a couple of “not today, mate” Q School outcomes, this year Morris has fired out of the blocks – a little like you might expect from someone nicknamed The Gun. So I decided to see if Tommy felt the same. Turns out he does:
“What I’m pleased about this year is how far I’ve come and what I’ve done, as in finishing so high in the Challenge Tour, getting invited to Pro Tours and not getting smashed at the Pro Tours. I’m mixing and beating some big names – Gary Anderson, Gabriel Clemens, Martin Schindler, Justin Hood – even playing against them and not bottling it!
“Selected for England and playing for my country through the county system was a big one. Then getting invited to MODUS, winning my first game with a 100 average, beating William Borland 4-0, sort of gave me the gist that I know I’m made for this game, you know.”
Ah, good old Willie! He probably hasn’t stopped dancing around since hitting that nine-darter on the Ally Pally stage. As far as targets for this year go, Tommy is crystal clear on his game plan:
“So obviously I’m going to do Q School again. I will be doing that mate, till I get my tour card. That would change my life.”
Yep, it sure can – providing you win plenty of games and hang onto it. But from the evidence so far this season, Morris is more than holding his own and seems pretty fearless when playing ‘blokes from the telly’.
Given that Tommy has read some of my articles, I felt it pertinent to ask what kind of person he is away from the oche. Hoping he’s not as sombre-looking as Krzysztof Ratajski being told his house is being repossessed and discovering the dog has eaten his slippers. Mercifully, he isn’t:
“If I’m honest, everybody knows what I do and what I’m like, what I’m about. I’m always up for having fun. There’s never a dull moment with myself. I’m always having a crack.”
Good. Bodes well and more importantly, doesn’t render this article pointless then. Married for over a decade to Leilani and with two beautiful children, it’s tough juggling precious family time, a full-time job and a sleep, eat, work, throw darts, repeat lifestyle. Yet he manages it and has no plans to quit his job just yet:
“I’d never give it up if I’m honest. I’m a gardener – so tree surgeon, mowing grass and stuff – something I’ve always done. I don’t do it all the time, it’s like a part-time thing, but I’ve done it to fit it around family and darts really mate. I’d never quit.”
Tommy says that now. But when he’s raking in thousands chucking bits of tungsten at a sisal fibre board, cutting down trees and mowing lawns may well lose their appeal entirely. I then decided to ask what I ask a lot of players – who are his best mates on tour? And the Dorset slinger didn’t hesitate:
“Mervyn King. We sit together on the Pro Tours and also go out for meals. Also, Gary Anderson, Scott Williams, William O’Connor and Daryl Gurney are good lads.”
Generally speaking, hanging around Merv means setting your alarm for about 3am and queuing up outside the venue for security to open up five or six hours later. If King ever became a milkman, cows would have to get up even earlier.
Recently, the 33-year-old has undergone a change away from the oche:
“I’ve left a company called Luke 1977, which is a clothing brand. They’ve been good to me the last two years. I’ve been offered other stuff from other companies but yet to clarify anything.”
I then asked if any of the big-boy manufacturers had come sniffing yet. Apparently not, as he explains:
“Shot and Target won’t be on my radar at the moment because I’m with Cuesoul, which is a company from China. I’m with them until 5 July 2027, so I’ve got another year to go.”
That’s pretty much it for the fella who looks a little like what Justin Hood would if you stretched him out on a rack. Smiling away and, if you’ve seen some of Tommy’s social media videos, believing he is the ghost of Michael Jackson with his dance moves. Word on that – you aren’t, mate! After all, anything that sounds like ‘Morris Dancing’ isn’t a look you want.
That maiden Challenge Tour title is on its way. Twice he has let the fish escape from the line with two final defeats this year. But it’s coming. And if Tommy keeps chucking that tungsten the way he has been, that elusive stroll to the winners’ circle can’t be far away.
