Nerve-wracking finale in Bahrain: Freddy Schott wins a playoff against Reed and Hill, securing his first DP World Tour victory and rising to 9th in the Race to Dubai.
At the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour stayed thrilling until the last moment. In a tight battle on the final day between Scotland’s Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was ultimately Schott who triumphed in a nerve-wracking playoff. This marks Schott’s maiden victory on the DP World Tour. The win catapults the Düsseldorf native up 94 places to 9th in the Race to Dubai standings.
Trio Shares Lead After Final Round
All three players finished Sunday tied at 17 under par atop the leaderboard. Schott improved by one stroke from the previous day with a 69. He shined on the front nine with four birdies but dropped a bogey on the 8th hole. His back nine was steady, despite a double bogey on the 11th hole. Three more birdies and one bogey resulted in a 3-under par round.
American Patrick Reed carded a 67, five strokes under par, with seven birdies and two bogeys, closely matching his best round of 66 from the previous Saturday.
Scot Calum Hill shot a 71, one under par. Despite a strong 61 on Friday giving him a cushion, his competitors closed the gap with Hill posting five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey on the final day, leaving him short of a solo win at the Royal Golf Club.
DP World Tour: Dramatic Playoff Decision in Favor of Freddy Schott
In the playoff, Schott started strong with a par on the first hole. Reed bogeyed with a five, while Hill also made par, pushing the playoff back to the 18th hole. On the second playoff hole, Hill faltered with a seven on the par-4, conceding the chance to win. Schott held steady with an even par to secure the title.
Spanish star Sergio García, who led the leaderboard multiple times during the event, finished the day with a 68, sharing fourth place with New Zealander Daniel Hillier, both at 16 under par overall.
The moment Freddy Schott became a winner on Tour 🙌
He beat Calum Hill on the second play-off hole as the Scotsman conceded after going out of bounds off the tee and then into the water with his fourth shot.