Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief following his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott found himself at a loss for words. \”It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,\” said the Düsseldorf native, who celebrated his maiden 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: \”Nerves kicked in on the back nine\”
The final day was demanding for 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. However, tension began to build on the back nine: \”Of course, the nerves started coming in then.\”
Despite this, Freddy Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it pretty well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. Imperfections surfaced notably on the 11th hole. After missing an eagle on the 10th, 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 subsequent chip missed. \”Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.\”
Timely birdies and a shared lead
Instead of letting the setback affect him, Schott made a conscious decision. \”Normally, we get a ride from the 11th to the 12th, but I said: Okay, I won’t ride, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the core reason for playing golf: \”These are the moments you are 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 the 12th, a good birdie on the 13th,\” Schott reported before focusing on just getting \”somehow to the clubhouse\” in the final holes. After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill, making a playoff unavoidable. In the playoff, Schott kept his nerves steady. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed was previously eliminated – Schott remained flawless and sealed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: \”We talked about everything but golf\”
A key role was played by his caddie. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”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 to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the final putt was indescribable. \”How I feel is beyond