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.
At the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour remained thrilling until the very last moment. In a close contest between Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was Schott who ultimately prevailed in an intense final-day playoff. This victory marks Schott’s first on the DP World Tour, catapulting the Düsseldorf native up 94 places to 9th in the Race to Dubai rankings.
Trio Shares The Lead After Final Round
All three players finished Sunday at 17 under par, tied atop the leaderboard. Schott improved by one stroke from the previous day with a 69. He started strong with four birdies on the front nine but suffered a bogey at hole 8. On the back nine, despite a double bogey at hole 11, he managed three more birdies and another bogey, finishing three under par for the day.
Patrick Reed carded a 67, five under par, including seven birdies and two bogeys, closely matching his best round of 66 from Saturday.
Calum Hill posted a 71, one under par, securing a high leaderboard spot due to his impressive 61 on Friday. Yet, his five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey on the final day weren’t enough to claim an outright victory at Royal Golf Club.
DP World Tour: Freddy Schott Claims Dramatic Playoff Victory
The playoff began with Schott making par on the 18th hole. Reed faltered with a bogey, taking five strokes. Hill matched Schott with par, forcing a second playoff hole. There, Hill’s seven strokes on a par-4 ended his chances, while Schott’s even par secured the win.
Spanish golfer Sergio García, who led during several stages of the event, ended the day with a 68 to tie for fourth place with New Zealander Daniel Hillier, both finishing at 16 under par.
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)