Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
Freddy Schott was at a loss for words after his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour: ‘It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,’ said the German from Düsseldorf after claiming his maiden DP World Tour title. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott prevailed over 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 described. The start was ‘okay’ as he played steadily with a good rhythm. But tension set in on the back nine: ‘Of course, the nerves kicked in from there.’
Schott kept his composure. ‘I’m glad I managed it well – not perfectly, but okay,’ he reflected. Imperfect moments showed on hole 11, where after missing an eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot went ‘very hot’ right, landing behind the green. The following chip failed, resulting in a ‘dumb double bogey’ with two putts.
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Instead of falling apart, Schott made a conscious choice. ‘Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I decided to walk, to calm myself and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the core reason he plays golf: ‘These are the moments you’re here for; it’s why you play – so push on and keep going.’
He executed beautifully with a great shot on 12 and a good birdie on 13. The rest of the round focused on ‘just getting it into the clubhouse.’ At 17 under par, Schott shared the lead with Reed and Hill after 72 holes, leading to an unavoidable playoff. Schott kept his nerves steady, needing two playoff holes to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed was already out, and Schott finished with a par to seal his triumph.
Caddie Support: ‘We Talked About Everything but Golf’
His caddie played a key role. ‘Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,’ said Schott. ‘He kept my mind off all those thoughts. We talked about everything except golf – and that was great.’ He concluded, ‘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,’ Schott said. Most importantly: ‘I’m just glad I got it over the line – and we’ll see what the future holds.’