Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes and relief after his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
Freddy Schott was at a loss for words after his win at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour. \”It still hasn’t quite sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the Düsseldorf native after celebrating his first DP World Tour victory. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”Nerves kicked in 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 played quite well and found a good rhythm. However, tension arose on the back nine: \”Of course, that’s when the nerves kicked in.\”
Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it fairly well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. His imperfection was evident on the 11th hole. 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 landed \”very hot\” behind the green, and the following chip failed. \”Two putts, just a stupid double bogey.\”
Birdies at the right time and a shared top spot
Instead of letting the setback throw him off, Schott made a conscious choice. \”Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t go with them; I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; that’s why you play golf – so try to press the gas pedal and keep going.\”
He followed through. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12 and got a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, before focusing on \”somehow getting it into the clubhouse\” in the final holes. At 17 under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – a playoff was inevitable. In the showdown, Schott kept his nerves steady. Two playoff holes were enough to seal the victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated earlier – Schott remained flawless and completed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as anchor: \”We talked about everything except golf\”
His caddie played a key role. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely kept me away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything except golf – and that was great.\” His summary: \”He did an incredible job this week, and I couldn’t be happier to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the last putt was indescribable. \”How I feel is beyond words. I have no words,\” Sch