Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott struggled to find the words: \”It still hasn’t quite sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the German from Düsseldorf after clinching his first DP World Tour win at the Royal Golf Club. In a dramatic playoff, Schott defeated Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: “Nerves Hit on the Back Nine”
The final day demanded everything from the German. \”It was tough, especially towards the end,\” Schott described his time on the course. The start was \”okay\” as he was playing well with good rhythm. But as he reached the back nine, the tension grew: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in then.\”
Despite this, Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad to have managed it reasonably well— not perfectly, but okay,\” he reflected. This was evident especially on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot followed: \”The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the flag, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.\” The ball ended up \”very hot\” behind the green, and the subsequent chip failed. \”Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.\”
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Instead of being thrown off by the setback, Schott made a conscious choice. \”Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t take the ride, I’ll walk to calm myself and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the essence of the sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; that’s why you play golf—so try to step on the gas and keep going.\”
And so he did. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,\” reported Schott before focusing on \”somehow getting it into the clubhouse\”. After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill—making a playoff inevitable. In the shootout, Schott kept his composure. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated—Schott remained error-free and sealed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an Anchor: “We Talked About Everything but Golf”
A key role was played by his caddie. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely distracted me from all these thoughts. We talked about everything but golf—and that was great.\” His conclusion: \”He did an incredible job this week, and I couldn’t be happier to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the final putt was hard to describe. \”How I feel is indescribable. I