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 golfer from Düsseldorf after celebrating his first DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. In a dramatic playoff, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter in 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 the hours on the course. The start was ‘okay’ because he played fairly well and had a good rhythm. But as soon as the back nine began, the tension set in: ‘Of course, nerves kicked in from there.’
Despite this, Schott stayed composed. ‘I was glad I managed it pretty well—not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. His imperfections became evident at the 11th hole. After missing an eagle at the 10th, 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 his subsequent chip failed. ‘Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.’
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Instead of letting the setback derail him, Schott made a conscious decision. ‘We usually get a ride from the 11th to the 12th, but I said: Okay, I won’t take the ride, I’ll walk to calm myself down 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 push the gas and keep going.’
And so he did. ‘We played a beautiful shot on the 12th, a good birdie on the 13th,’ Schott reported, before focusing on just getting it home in the last holes. Tied at 17 under par after 72 holes with Reed and Hill, a playoff was inevitable. Schott held his nerves in the playoff. Two holes were enough to seal the victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated, and Schott played flawlessly, finishing with a par to complete his triumph.
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 completely away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything, just not about 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