COLIN LLOYD admitted that inconsistency cost him his chance of winning the Holsten Premier League Darts title, after suffering an 11-3 semi-final loss to Phil Taylor.
The world number one saw his hopes of claiming the £50,000 first prize dashed by a Taylor super-show at the Plymouth Pavilions.
Lloyd won just three legs in the match, with Taylor averaging 105 to see off Lloyd in a repeat of the 2005 Premier League final.
"I wasn't good enough, it's as simple as that," said Lloyd. "I didn't get going and was too inconsistent.
"Fair play to Phil, he got up there and turned me over quite comfortably. You've got to play your best darts against him and I didn't.
"I won my legs with 11, 11 and 13 darts, and that just about sums it up. You think what could have been, there were flashes but it wasn't good enough and he kept punishing me.
"I didn't get into a rhythm but I'll come another day. My confidence is coming back and I know I've got the game to go up there and perform - this is just a blip.
"I got to the semi-finals and I didn't really expect that, I left it a little bit late in the league phase.
"I've won £20,000 but on Monday I wasn't good enough. I haven't really been consistent enough all year.
"I felt good enough and was throwing well on the practice board, but I got up on stage and there was nothing in the tank.
"That's when you get punished and basically it was a stroll in the park for him."
Lloyd will defend his Stan James World Matchplay title in July, and will contest the Budweiser UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic before that.
He has also recently competed in major events in Holland and America, and is confident about the future.
"We're getting good crowds and good viewing figures and that's only good for the game," he added.
"Phil said it's not about the money, but that's okay for a man with a couple of million in the bank! It is for me, I don't want to go back to the building site.
"The game is getting big again and it can only be good for everyone, not just the guys in the Premier League, and I'm looking forward to the future."