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 fully sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,’ said the German from Düsseldorf, who celebrated his maiden DP World Tour win in Bahrain. In a dramatic playoff, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill at the Royal Golf Club, marking the most important chapter in his career so far.
Freddy Schott: ‘Nerves kicked in on the back nine’
The final day demanded everything from Schott. ‘It was tough, especially towards the end,’ he described. The start was ‘okay’ because ‘I played quite decently and had a good rhythm.’ But tension grew on the back nine: ‘Of course, nerves kicked in then.’
Despite this, Freddy Schott kept his composure. ‘I was glad I managed it pretty well – not perfectly, but okay,’ he reflected. Imperfect moments were evident, especially on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot followed: ‘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 his following chip missed. ‘Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.’
Birdies at the right time and a shared lead
Instead of letting the setback throw him off, Schott made a conscious choice. ‘Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the essence of the sport: ‘These are the moments you are here for; this is why you play golf – so try to step on the gas and keep going.’
And he did just that. ‘We played a beautiful shot on 12 and a good birdie on 13,’ Schott reported, before it was about ‘somehow getting it to the clubhouse’ in the final holes. At 17 under par, he shared the lead after 72 holes with Reed and Hill, making a playoff unavoidable. Schott kept his nerves for the conclusion. Two playoff holes were enough to secure victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated – Schott stayed flawless and finished his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: ‘We talked about everything but golf’
A crucial role was 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 but golf – and that was great.’ His conclusion: ‘He did an amazing 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 indescribable. I have no words,’ Schott said