The DP World Tour kicks off a new tournament week with the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. Two Germans make an impressive move to the front on the first day.
The DP World Tour’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship has started at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, where two German players stood out against the international field on the opening day.
Schott Leads DP World Tour, Von Dellingshausen Close Behind
Freddy Schott had a dream start, recording six birdies in his first nine holes, including five in a row, quickly rising to the top of the leaderboard. Despite a double bogey on the tenth hole briefly halting his momentum, he bounced back with birdies on 14 and 17 and finished with an eagle on the last hole to share the lead at -7 with Spain’s Alejandro Del Rey, who carded a flawless round with seven birdies and no bogeys.
Nicolai von Dellingshausen is chasing in close position. After a strong front nine featuring birdies on holes 3, 4, 6, and 7, along with an eagle on the 9th following a precise approach shot, he reached -5. Though he took a bogey on the 11th, he responded with birdies on 13 and 18, ending the day at -6 in a promising position for the second round, thanks largely to his accurate approach shots.
Mixed Results for Other DACH Players
Marcel Schneider sits in the middle of the leaderboard after an inconsistent round composed of five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, finishing at -1. He notably excelled on par-3 holes, securing birdies on three of the four par-3s.
Swiss player Joel Girrbach posted a -2 round, starting solidly with a birdie and eight pars. Despite two bogeys on the back nine, birdies on holes 15, 16, and 18 helped him finish under par.
Marcel Siem experienced ups and downs. After bogeys on 4 and 5 and narrowly missing a hole-in-one on 7—where he also made a birdie—he went to the back nine at even par. Early bogeys on 10 and 11 were offset by a birdie on 14, but another bogey prevented a comeback, resulting in a +2 finish for the day.
Bernd Wiesberger and Maximilian Steinlechner each carded three birdies and six bogeys, finishing at +3 and placing in the lower third of the field.
Defending Champion Off to a Strong Start
Last year’s winner, Laurie Canter, is on course to defend his title, posting three birdies on the front nine and four more on the back nine, with only one bogey leaving him at -6, within striking distance of the lead.
Notable news also came from last week’s winner Patrick Reed, who announced before the tournament he would not return to LIV Golf and plans a PGA Tour comeback in summer 2026. His round was mixed,