Nerve-wracking Bahrain finish: 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.
The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain delivered suspense until the final moment. In a tight race between Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was Schott who ultimately triumphed in a thrilling playoff on the final day. This victory marks Schott’s first-ever DP World Tour win and catapults the Düsseldorf native up 94 places to 9th in the Race to Dubai standings.
Trio Shares the 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, featuring four birdies on the front nine but a bogey on hole 8. His back nine remained solid despite a double bogey on hole 11. Three more birdies and an additional bogey led to a three-under-par round.
Patrick Reed carded a 67, five under par, with seven birdies and two bogeys, nearly matching his best round of the tournament, a 66 from Saturday.
Calum Hill posted a one-under 71, maintaining a high leaderboard position despite a less stellar final round. His impressive 61 on Friday gave him a cushion, but his challengers closed the gap with strong performances on Sunday. Hill’s five birdies, two bogeys, and one double bogey fell short of securing victory.
DP World Tour: Freddy Schott Prevails in Dramatic Playoff
The playoff began with Schott making par while Reed bogeyed after five strokes. Hill also made par with four strokes, forcing a second playoff hole. On the second hole, Hill struggled with a seven-stroke score on the par-4, removing himself from contention. Schott’s even-par performance clinched the tournament win.
Spanish star Sergio García, who held the lead multiple times during the event, finished with a 68 on the final day to share fourth place with New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, both finishing 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. #BahrainGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/GhZCRaRR6v
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour