Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief following his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After winning the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott found himself at a loss for words: \”It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It’s going to take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the German from Düsseldorf after celebrating his maiden 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 the hours on the course. The start was \”okay\” as he played fairly well with a good rhythm. However, tension rose on the back nine: \”Of course, the nerves started there.\”
Despite this, Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it reasonably well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. This was especially evident on the 11th hole. Following a missed eagle on 10, he hit an unfortunate tee shot: \”The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the flag, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.\” The ball ended up \”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 letting the setback unnerve him, Schott made a conscious choice. \”Usually, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: okay, I won’t hitch a ride, I’ll walk to calm myself down, to stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of golf’s core: \”These are the moments you’re here for; that’s why you play golf – so try to press the gas pedal and keep going.\”
He did exactly that. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, with the last holes focused on \”somehow getting it into the clubhouse.\” With 17-under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – making the playoff inevitable. In the playoff, Schott kept his nerves. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the victory. 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\”
His caddie played a key role. \”Luckily, I spoke 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 indescribable. \”How I feel is beyond words. I have no words