Nerve-wracking finish in Bahrain: Freddy Schott wins playoff against Reed and Hill, secures first DP World Tour victory and rises to 9th in 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 strong head-to-head battle between Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was Schott who ultimately prevailed in a tense playoff on the final day. This victory marks Schott’s first triumph on the DP World Tour and catapults the Düsseldorf native to 9th place in the Race to Dubai rankings, climbing 94 spots.
Trio shares lead after final round
All three players finished the final Sunday tied at 17 under par atop the leaderboard. Schott improved by one stroke from the previous day, carding a 69. He shone on the front nine with four birdies but dropped a bogey on the 8th hole. His back nine was steady overall despite a double bogey on the 11th. Three more birdies and one bogey sealed his round at three under par.
American Patrick Reed finished with a 67, five under par, with seven birdies and two bogeys, nearly matching his best round of 66 from the previous Saturday.
Scot Calum Hill shot an average 71, one under par, yet maintained a high leaderboard position thanks largely to his 61 on Friday. However, his challengers took advantage of his final day struggles of five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, denying him an outright win at the Royal Golf Club.
DP World Tour: Freddy Schott clinches victory in dramatic playoff
The playoff began with Schott making par on the 18th hole. Reed bogeyed with five strokes, while Hill matched Schott with par, sending the players back for another playoff hole. On the second playoff hole, Hill faltered with a seven on the par-4, while Schott played even par, securing the championship.
Spanish golfer Sergio García, who had led at various stages, closed round four with a 68 and tied for fourth place alongside 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 (@DPWorld