Nerve-wracking Bahrain finish: Freddy Schott wins in a playoff against Reed and Hill, claims his 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 last moment. In a strong head-to-head battle between Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was ultimately Schott who triumphed in a tense playoff on the final day. This victory marks Schott’s first on the DP World Tour, propelling the Düsseldorf native to 9th place in the Race to Dubai rankings, climbing 94 spots.
Trio Shares Lead After Final Day
All three players finished the final Sunday tied at 17 under par atop the leaderboard. Freddy Schott improved by one stroke from the previous day with a round of 69. He shone on the front nine with four birdies but suffered a bogey on the 8th hole. His back nine was solid overall despite a double bogey at the 11th. Three more birdies and another bogey resulted in a three-under-par score for the day.
American Patrick Reed ended the tournament with a 67, five under par, including seven birdies and two bogeys. This performance nearly matched his best round from the previous Saturday when he shot 66.
Scot Calum Hill posted a one-under-par 71, maintaining a high position on the leaderboard. His impressive 61 on Friday had given him a buffer, but his rivals capitalized on his struggles on the final day to close the gap. Despite five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, Hill could not secure an outright win at the Royal Golf Club.
DP World Tour: Dramatic Playoff Decides Winner Freddy Schott
In the playoff, Freddy Schott began by making par. Patrick Reed took five strokes, recording a bogey, while Calum Hill matched par with four strokes, forcing the 18th hole to be played again. On the second playoff hole, Hill scored a seven on the par-4, ending his contention for the title. Schott played even par to clinch the tournament.
Spanish golfer Sergio García, who led multiple times during the event, finished the final day with a 68, tying for 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. #BahrainGolfChamps pic.twitter