In a nerve-wracking playoff, Freddy Schott secures his first DP World Tour victory using exclusively Ping clubs.
Freddy Schott clinched his first DP World Tour win at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship 2026 after a tense final-day playoff. The 24-year-old from Düsseldorf emerged victorious after the second playoff hole over Scotland’s Callum Hill and American Patrick Reed, both finishing the tournament at -17. Schott is loyal to the renowned Japanese brand Ping when it comes to his clubs.
Driving with a Mini Driver as a Secret Weapon
The newly crowned DP World Tour champion relies on a mini driver off the tee, similar to Marco Penge, who recently adopted this club as well. Schott’s driver is a prototype from Ping, which was added to the USGA’s conforming list in January 2026. Ping is among the few manufacturers whose mini drivers are not yet commercially available and are used exclusively by top players. Notable features include the ‘Prototype’ marking on the sole, an adjustable weight at the back, an adjustable hosel, and the term ‘Spinsistency’ on the clubface.
Schott also carries a Ping utility iron in his bag. Previously, depending on the course, he used Ping’s iCrossover 2- or 3-iron, but he has been seen with the iDi utility iron since late 2025. The PING iDi is a high-performance long club combining modern technology with compact shape, excellent feel, and control, designed for maximum ball speed and stability as a driving iron or for long approach shots.
Ping Blueprint-S for Control and Performance
For his regular irons (4-PW), Schott uses Ping Blueprint-S irons, a setup in use for about a year since their introduction in early 2025. Prior to that, he played Ping i59 irons for over two years. The Blueprint-S heads are fully forged from 8620 carbon steel with a thin topline, narrow sole, and matte satin chrome finish, targeting low-handicap players seeking irons with great control and excellent performance.
His wedges are also from Ping, belonging to the S259 family, featuring precision-milled MicroMax grooves and a Hydropearl chrome finish that increases friction and spin, especially in wet conditions. The S259 series succeeds the well-known S159 and has been available 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 a distinctive putting sound since 1959. Schott trusts the classic mallet design for his putter, having been seen with this shape in the past. His Ping PLD Ketsch Custom Putter was crafted to his specifications to provide precise roll and clear feedback. It helped him achieve the best putting statistics over four tournament days and ultimately led him to victory in the playoff.
An exception in his equipment is his ball choice: like many other pros, Schott uses the Titleist Pro V1.