Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott found it hard to find words. \”It still hasn’t quite sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the German from Düsseldorf, who celebrated his first DP World Tour win at the Royal Golf Club. In a dramatic playoff, Schott prevailed against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter in 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 time on the course. The start was still \”okay\” because he played quite well and had a good rhythm. But with the back nine came the tension: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in from there.\”
Nevertheless, Freddy Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it pretty well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. Imperfections showed particularly on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot occurred: \”The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the flag, but unfortunately, I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.\” The ball landed \”very hot\” behind the green, and the subsequent chip failed. \”Two putts, simply a dumb double bogey.\”
Birdies at the right time and a shared lead
Instead of letting the setback upset him, Schott made a conscious decision. \”We usually get a ride from 11 to 12, and I said: Okay, I won’t ride, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; that’s why you play golf – so try to press the gas pedal and keep going.\”
And so he did. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, before the last holes were just about \”getting it somehow into the clubhouse.\” At 17 under par, he shared the lead after 72 holes with Reed and Hill – a playoff was inevitable. In the decider, Schott kept his nerve. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated – Schott remained flawless and sealed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: \”We talked about everything except golf\”
A key role was also played by his caddie. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” said Schott. \”He completely kept me away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything except golf – and that was great.\” His conclusion: \”He did an incredible job this week, and I couldn’t be happier to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the final putt was hard to put into words. \”How I feel is indescrib