Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief following his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, Freddy Schott was at a loss for words: ‘It still hasn’t quite sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,’ said the German from Düsseldorf after celebrating his first DP World Tour win. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”Nerves Set In on the Back Nine\”
The final day demanded everything from the German. ‘It was tough, especially towards the end,’ Schott described his time on the course. The start was ‘okay’ as he played quite well and found a good rhythm, but tension grew with the back nine: ‘Of course, the nerves kicked in from then on.’
Still, Freddy Schott stayed composed. ‘I was glad I managed it quite well – not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. His imperfection showed 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 flag, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.’ The ball landed ‘very hot’ behind the green, and the next chip failed. ‘Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.’
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Rather than let the setback throw him off, Schott made a conscious decision. ‘We usually get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t take it, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: ‘These are the moments you’re here for; the reason you play golf – so try to step on the gas and keep going.’
He did just that. ‘We played a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,’ Schott reported, before the last holes were about just ‘somehow getting it to the clubhouse.’ At 17 under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – a playoff was unavoidable. In the decision, Schott kept his nerve. Two playoff holes were enough to finalize the win. Hill faltered, Reed had already dropped out – Schott stayed error-free and sealed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as Anchor: \”We Talked About Everything but Golf\”
A key 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 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