Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes and relief after his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
Freddy Schott was at a loss for words after his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour: \”It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,\” said the German from Düsseldorf, who celebrated his first DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club. In a dramatic playoff, Schott prevailed against Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of 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 his time on the course. The start was \”okay\” as he played decently with a good rhythm, but tension set in on the back nine: \”Of course, nerves started to come in.\”
Schott remained composed. \”I was glad I managed it quite well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. This was especially evident on hole 11 after a missed eagle on 10, followed by an unfortunate tee shot: \”The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the flag, but I pulled it. Pulled shots often run long.\” The ball landed \”very hot\” behind the green and the subsequent chip failed, resulting in \”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. \”Normally, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I’ll walk to calm myself and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the essence of the sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; this is why you play golf – so try to hit the gas and keep going.\”
He did just that. \”We executed a beautiful shot on 12 and a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported, before focusing on \”just getting it somehow to the clubhouse.\” After 72 holes, he shared the lead at 17 under par with Reed and Hill, leading to an inevitable playoff. In the decider, Schott held his nerve. Two playoff holes were enough to seal the win. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated, and Schott remained flawless, finishing his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an Anchor: \”We Talked About Everything Except Golf\”
A key role was also played by his caddie. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely distracted me from 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 to work with him.\”
The emotional moment after the last 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 over the line