Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief following his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After his win at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott was at a loss for words. “It still hasn’t quite sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,” said the German from Düsseldorf who secured his first DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club in a dramatic playoff against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter in his career so far.
Freddy Schott: “The Nerves Kicked In on the Back Nine”
The final day tested Schott to the limit. “It was tough, especially towards the end,” he described. The start was “okay” with a good rhythm, but tension rose on the back nine. “Of course, the nerves started to come in then.”
Despite this, Schott stayed focused. “I was glad I managed it quite well – not perfect, but okay,” he reflected. His imperfections showed on the 11th hole: after a missed eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot went six or seven meters right of the flag, ending hot behind the green, with a poor chip and two putts leading to a double bogey.
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Instead of letting the setback shake him, Schott consciously chose to stay calm. “Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I decided to walk to calm myself and stay in the moment.” He reminded himself why he plays golf: “These are the moments you are here for; it’s why you play – so try to press the gas and keep going.”
He followed through, hitting a beautiful shot on 12 and a good birdie on 13. The last holes were about just getting to the clubhouse. At 17 under par, he shared the lead after 72 holes with Reed and Hill, forcing a playoff. Schott kept his nerves steady, requiring two playoff holes to clinch victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already exited – Schott played error-free, finishing his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an Anchor: “We Talked About Everything Except Golf”
A key role was played by his caddie. “Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,” said Schott. “He completely 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,” Schott said. One thing was clear: “I’m just glad I got it done – and we’ll see what the future holds.”