Freddy Schott opens up about nerves, mistakes and relief after his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott was almost at a loss for words: ‘It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,’ said the German from Düsseldorf, who clinched his maiden DP World Tour title in a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter in his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”Nerves kicked in from the back nine\”
The final day demanded everything from Schott. ‘It was tough, especially towards the end,’ he described his time on the course. The start was ‘okay’ as he played fairly steadily and had a good rhythm. However, tension rose from the back nine: ‘Of course, that’s when the nerves set in.’
Schott kept composed despite this. ‘I was glad I managed it reasonably well — not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. The imperfection became evident particularly on the 11th hole. After missing an eagle on 10, he had an unlucky tee shot: ‘The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the pin, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often go long.’ The ball landed ‘very hot’ behind the green, and the subsequent chip failed. ‘Two putts, just a silly double bogey.’
Birdies at the right moment and a shared lead
Instead of letting the setback unsettle him, Schott made a conscious decision. ‘Usually, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t ride, I’ll walk to calm myself and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: ‘These are the moments you are here for; this is why you play golf — so try to press the gas pedal and keep going.’
And so he did. ‘We played a beautiful shot on 12, a solid birdie on 13,’ Schott said, before focusing on just getting ‘somehow into the clubhouse’ during the closing holes. At 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill after 72 holes, making a playoff inevitable. In the playoff, Schott kept his composure. Two holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed was already eliminated — Schott remained flawless and finished his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: \”We talked about everything except golf\”
His caddie played a key role as well. ‘Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,’ Schott said. ‘He kept me away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything except 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 hard to put into words. ‘How I feel is indescribable. I have no words,’ said Schott. One thing was clear: ‘