In a thrilling playoff, Freddy Schott secures his first DP World Tour victory using exclusively Ping clubs.
At the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship 2026, Freddy Schott clinched his maiden DP World Tour win on the final day in a nerve-wracking playoff. Only after the second hole of the playoff against Scotsman Callum Hill and American Patrick Reed, who also finished the tournament at -17, was it clear that the 24-year-old from Düsseldorf had brought his first major success to Germany. Schott remains loyal to the renowned Japanese brand Ping for his choice of clubs.
Driver: Mini Driver as a Secret Weapon
Off the tee, the newly crowned winner of the latest DP World Tour event relies on a mini driver, similar to Marco Penge, who recently also adopted such a club. Schott’s driver is a prototype model from the Japanese manufacturer, which was only added to the USGA Conforming List in January this year. Ping is thus one of the few manufacturers whose mini drivers are not yet commercially available and used exclusively by the world’s top players. Notable features include the ‘Prototype’ marking on the sole, an adjustable weight track at the back, an adjustable hosel and the word ‘Spinsistency’ on the clubface, completing this previously unseen model.
Freddy Schott also carries a utility iron from Ping. Previously, depending on course conditions, he used a 2- or 3-iron from the Ping iCrossover series, but has recently been seen with the Ping iDi utility iron. Introduced at the end of 2025, this iron is already in the bags of various pros. The Ping iDi is a powerful long game iron combining modern technology with a compact shape, excellent feel, and high control, designed to offer maximum ball speed and stability, especially as a reliable driving iron or for long approach shots.
Ping Blueprint-S for Control and Performance
For his standard irons (4-PW), Schott uses clubs from the Ping Blueprint-S series, a setup he has used for about a year since its debut in early 2025. Before that, he played Ping i59 irons for over two years. The Blueprint-S heads are forged entirely from 8620 carbon steel with a thin topline, narrow sole, and a matte satin chrome finish. This series targets low handicap golfers seeking irons with excellent control and performance.
His wedges are also from Ping’s S259 family, featuring precision-milled MicroMax grooves on the clubface. The Hydropearl chrome finish aims to maximize friction and spin, especially under wet conditions. This series is the successor to the well-known S159 and has been available commercially since early 2026.
Freddy Schott and His Crucial Putter in the Playoff
The final club in Schott’s bag is also from Ping, a brand synonymous with the distinctive sound of putting since 1959. Schott favors the classic mallet design putter, seen throughout his career. The custom Ping PLD Ketsch putter was tailored to Schott’s specifications to deliver precise roll characteristics and clear feedback. This putter contributed to his leading putting statistics over the four tournament days and ultimately helped secure the playoff victory.
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