Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After his win at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott was at a loss for words: \”It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the Düsseldorfer after celebrating his first DP World Tour victory. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott prevailed against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”The nerves kicked in on the back nine\”
The final day demanded everything from the German. \”It was tough, especially towards the end,\” Schott described his hours on the course. The start was \”okay\” as he played quite well and had a good rhythm, but tension grew with the back nine: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in there.\”
Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it pretty well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. The imperfection showed especially on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, he had an unlucky tee shot: \”The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the pin, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.\” The ball landed \”very hot\” behind the green, and the following chip failed. \”Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.\”
Birdies at the right time and a shared lead
Instead of getting thrown off by the setback, Schott made a conscious decision. \”Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: OK, I won’t take it, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the core of his sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; this is why you play golf – so try to step on the gas and keep going.\”
And he did. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, before it was just about \”somehow getting into the clubhouse\” in the final holes. After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – a playoff was inevitable. In the sudden death, Schott kept his nerves. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed was already out – Schott was flawless and finished his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: \”We talked about everything but golf\”
An essential role was also played by his caddie. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely kept me away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything but golf – and that was great.\” His conclusion: \”He did an incredible job this week, and I couldn’t be happier working with him.\”
The emotional moment after the last putt was hard to describe. \”How I feel is indescribable. I have no words,\” Schott said