Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour victory in Bahrain.
After his win 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 Düsseldorfer after celebrating his maiden DP World Tour victory. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott prevailed against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career to date.
Freddy Schott: \”The Nerves Hit on the Back Nine\”
The final day demanded everything from the German. \”It was tough, especially towards the end,\” Schott described his hours on the course. The start was \”okay,\” as he played quite well with a good rhythm. However, the tension increased on the back nine: \”Of course, that’s when the nerves kicked in.\”
Yet Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad I managed it pretty well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. The imperfection was evident on hole 11. 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 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 throw him off, Schott made a conscious decision. \”Usually, we get a ride from 11 to 12, and I said: Okay, I won’t take it; I’ll walk to calm myself 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 your foot on the gas and keep going.\”
Actions spoke louder than words. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12 and made a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, before focusing on \”somehow getting it into the clubhouse\” in the closing holes. After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill – making the playoff unavoidable. Schott kept his nerve during the playoff. Two playoff holes were enough to secure the victory. Hill faltered, Reed had previously been eliminated – Schott made no mistakes 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. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely distracted me 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 to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the final putt was hard to put into words. \”How I feel is indescribable. I