Taylor has re-discovered his form after losing his Premier League crown in May

Phil Taylor claimed a record hat-trick of wins in the UK Open with an 11-6 victory over Colin Osborne in the final at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

The 48-year-old followed up his victories in 2003 and 2005 with a win which was worth £40,000 in prize money.

Osborne, appearing in his first major final, led 3-0 in the early stages but Taylor found his form to ensure glory.

Taylor beat Mark Lawrence in the quarter-finals and Ronnie Baxter in the semi-finals to reach the final.

Taylor dropped just six legs during finals day in his opening three games in the event, before whitewashing Lawrence 10-0 in the quarter-finals.

He also held off Baxter's challenge in the semi-finals with the Evesham thrower coming back from 6-0 down to 7-6, before eventually losing 10-6.

Osborne won the opening leg of the final on double top, and hit the same bed to break Taylor's throw in leg two and again in the third to make a brilliant start with legs of 15, 14 and 13 darts.

Taylor then went 5-3 up, and that was extended to 9-3 on double ten before Osborne landed double 16.

Double five put Taylor a leg away from the title, only for legs of 13 and 14 darts to see Osborne threaten a comeback at 10-6.

However Taylor soon wrapped up the title by hitting a 13-darter and double top.