The DP World Tour kicks off a new tournament week with the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. Two Germans surge ahead on the first day.
The DP World Tour Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship has started at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain, where two German players made impressive moves against the international field on day one.
Schott Takes the Lead on DP World Tour, Von Dellingshausen Close Behind
Freddy Schott got off to a dream start with six birdies on his first nine holes, including five in a row, quickly moving to the top of the leaderboard. Although a double bogey on the tenth hole briefly slowed him, he bounced back with birdies on 14 and 17 and finished with an eagle on the final hole to share the lead at -7 with Spain’s Alejandro Del Rey, who posted a flawless round with seven birdies and no bogeys.
In pursuit is Nicolai von Dellingshausen, who made birdies on holes 3, 4, 6, and 7, scored an eagle on 9 after a near-perfect approach shot, and despite a bogey on 11, recovered with birdies on 13 and 18 to finish at -6 going into day two. His precise approach shots were a key factor in his strong round.
Other DACH Players Show Mixed Results
Marcel Schneider sits mid-field after the first round, shooting five birdies balanced by two bogeys and a double bogey for a total of -1. He particularly excelled on the par-3 holes, recording birdies on three out of four.
Swiss player Joel Girrbach finished at -2 after a solid start with a birdie and eight pars, recovering from two bogeys on the back nine with birdies on 15, 16, and 18.
Marcel Siem had an up-and-down day, narrowly missing a hole-in-one on the 7th hole but redeemed himself with birdies on 7 and 9, remaining even par at the turn. Early bogeys on the back nine hampered his progress, finishing at +2.
Bernd Wiesberger and Maximilian Steinlechner both ended their rounds at +3 with three birdies and six bogeys each, placing them in the lower third of the field.
Defending Champion On Track in Bahrain
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, finishing at -6 with only one bogey, close to the lead.
Notably, recent winner Patrick Reed announced before the tournament that he will not return to LIV Golf but aims to make a PGA Tour comeback in summer 2026. He posted a mixed round with five birdies and four bogeys, ending at -1 in the middle of the pack.
Due to an interruption on the first day, some players have yet to complete their initial rounds.