Nerve-wracking Bahrain finish: Freddy Schott wins in a playoff against Reed and Hill, securing his first DP World Tour victory and rising to 9th in the Race to Dubai.
The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain on the DP World Tour provided excitement until the very last moment. In a close race among Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was Schott who emerged victorious in a nerve-wracking playoff on the final day. This marks Schott’s first DP World Tour win and propels the Düsseldorf native to 9th place in the Race to Dubai standings, climbing 94 spots.
Trio shares lead after final day
All three players finished the final Sunday tied at 17 under par atop the leaderboard. Freddy Schott improved by one stroke from the previous day with a 69. He shined on the front nine with four birdies but made a bogey on the 8th hole. His back nine was solid overall despite a double bogey on the 11th. Additional three birdies and one bogey resulted in a three-under-par round.
American Patrick Reed carded a 67, five under par, with seven birdies and two bogeys, coming close to his best round the previous day which was a 66.
Calum Hill shot a 71, one under par, an average round compared to his exceptional 61 on Friday that gave him an early lead. Despite this, he maintained a high position on the leaderboard. Five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey were not enough to secure a direct win at the Royal Golf Club.
DP World Tour: Dramatic playoff decision for Freddy Schott
The playoff began with Schott making a par on the hole. Patrick Reed bogeyed with five strokes, while Calum Hill also made par with four. The 18th hole was played again for the playoff. In the second playoff hole, Hill took seven strokes on the par-4 and conceded defeat. Schott played even par to clinch the tournament.
Spanish player Sergio García, who led the leaderboard multiple times throughout the event, finished the day with a 68 and shared fourth place with New Zealander Daniel Hillier, both at 16 under par.
The moment Freddy Schott became a winner on Tour 🙌
He beat Calum Hill on the second play-off hole as the Scotsman conceded after going out of bounds off the tee and then into the water with his fourth shot. #BahrainGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/GhZCRaRR6v
— DP