Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes and relief following his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his triumph at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott struggled to find the right words: ‘It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,’ said the Düsseldorf native after celebrating his first DP World Tour win at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. He clinched the victory in a thrilling playoff against 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 tested Schott to his limits. ‘It was tough, especially towards the end,’ he described the hours on the course. The start was ‘okay’ since he played fairly well and maintained a good rhythm. However, tension set in on the back nine: ‘Of course, nerves kicked in from there.’
Nonetheless, Schott kept his composure. ‘I was glad I managed it quite well – not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. This wasn’t more evident than on the 11th hole. After missing an eagle on the 10th, an unlucky 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 landed \”very hot\” behind the green and his subsequent chip failed. ‘Two putts, just a stupid double bogey.’
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Instead of letting the setback throw him off, Schott made a conscious choice. ‘Usually, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the core of his sport: ‘These are the moments you’re here for; this is why you play golf – so try to put the pedal down and keep going.’
And so he did. ‘We played a beautiful shot on 12, got a nice birdie on 13,’ Schott recounted, before the last holes were about ‘somehow getting it into the clubhouse.’ With 17 under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – making a playoff inevitable. In the playoff, Schott kept his nerves steady. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated earlier – Schott remained flawless 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. ‘Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,’ Schott said. ‘He completely kept me away from all those 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 working with him.’
The emotional moment after the final putt was almost indescribable. ‘How I feel is indescribable. I have no words,’ Schott said. One thing