Freddy Schott speaks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his victory at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Freddy Schott was at a loss for words: ‘It still hasn’t fully sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,’ said the Düsseldorfer after celebrating his first DP World Tour win. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter in his career so far.
Freddy Schott: “Nerves Took Over 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 with a good rhythm. But the tension set in on the back nine: ‘Of course, the nerves kicked in from then on.’
Schott managed to stay composed. ‘I was glad to manage it quite well—not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. Imperfection showed on hole 11: after a missed eagle on 10, an unfortunate tee shot went too far right of the flag, landing ‘very hot’ behind the green, followed by a missed chip and two putts resulting in a careless 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 won’t take the ride; I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the essence of golf: ‘These are the moments you’re here for; this is why you play golf—to step on the gas and keep going.’
He executed that mindset, hitting a beautiful shot on 12 and a good birdie on 13. The remainder of the holes were about safely reaching the clubhouse. After 72 holes at 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill, making a playoff inevitable. In the playoff, Schott maintained his composure. Two holes were enough to secure the win as Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated, and Schott completed his triumph with a par.
Caddie as Anchor: “We Talked About Everything Except Golf”
His caddie played a key role. ‘Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,’ Schott said. ‘He kept me away from all those thoughts. We talked about everything except golf—which 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 have no words,’ Schott said. One thing is certain: ‘I’m just glad I got it across the line—and we’ll see what the future holds.’