In Bahrain, Freddy Schott clinches his first DP World Tour victory in a playoff against Reed and Hill, rising to 9th in the Race to Dubai.
At the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship of the DP World Tour was thrilling until the last moment. In a tight contest between Scotsman Calum Hill, American Patrick Reed, and German Freddy Schott, it was Schott who emerged victorious in a nerve-wracking playoff on the final day. This win marked Schott’s first DP World Tour triumph, propelling the Düsseldorf native to 9th place in the Race to Dubai, climbing 94 ranks.
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 the 8th hole. His back nine was steady despite a double bogey on 11, finishing with three birdies and another bogey for a three-under-par round.
Patrick Reed closed the tournament with a 67, five under par, including seven birdies and two bogeys, nearly matching his best round of the tournament, a 66 on Saturday.
Calum Hill carded a one-under-par 71, sufficient to keep him near the top of the leaderboard thanks to a brilliant 61 on Friday. However, his five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey on the final day weren’t enough for an outright win on the Royal Golf Club course.
DP World Tour: Freddy Schott wins dramatic playoff
The playoff began with Schott making par on the 18th hole, while Reed bogeyed with five strokes. Hill matched Schott’s par, leading to a second playoff hole. On the second attempt, Hill faltered with seven strokes on the par-4, conceding the victory. Schott held steady with an even-par to clinch the championship.
Spanish star Sergio García, who held the lead multiple times during the event, finished the final day with a 68, tying for fourth place with New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, both 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)