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 was at a loss for words: \”It still hasn’t completely sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the Düsseldorf native, who claimed his first DP World Tour win in a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”The Nerves Hit on the Back Nine\”
The final day demanded everything from Schott. \”It was tough, especially towards the end,\” he recalled. The start was \”okay\” as he played decently with a good rhythm. But tension grew on the back nine: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in from there.\”
Despite this, Freddy Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it fairly well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. The imperfection was evident on the 11th hole: after a missed eagle on 10, he hit an unfortunate 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 stupid double bogey.\”
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Top Spot
Instead of letting the setback shake him, Schott made a conscious choice. \”Normally we get a ride from the 11th to the 12th, but I said: Okay, I won’t take it, I’ll walk to calm myself and stay present.\” He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; this is 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 focusing on \”just getting it somehow to the clubhouse.\” After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – making a playoff inevitable. In the playoff, Schott kept his nerves. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed had been eliminated earlier – Schott played flawlessly and finished his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an Anchor: \”We Talked About Everything but Golf\”
His caddie played a key role as well. \”Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely distracted me 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 final putt was hard to put into words. \”How I feel is indescribable. I have no words,\” Schott said. One thing was clear to him: \”I’m just glad I got it over the line