Freddy Schott talks about nerves, errors 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 fully sunk in. It will take a while, but it’s incredible,’ said the German from Düsseldorf, who celebrated his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. 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 me from 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’ because he played fairly well and found a good rhythm. But from the back nine onwards, the tension rose: ‘Of course, the nerves kicked in from there.’
Nevertheless, Schott kept his composure. ‘I was glad I managed it quite well—not perfectly, but okay,’ he reflected. Imperfections showed particularly on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, he hit an unfortunate tee shot: ‘The plan was to aim six or seven meters right of the flag, but I pulled it. Pulled shots tend to go long.’ The ball landed ‘very hot’ behind the green, and the subsequent chip failed. ‘Two putts, just a silly double bogey.’
Birdies at crucial moments and shared lead
Rather than letting the setback distract him, Schott made a conscious decision. ‘Normally we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t ride; I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.’ He reminded himself of the essence of his sport: ‘These are the moments you’re here for; this is why you play golf—so try to press the gas and keep going.’
And so he did. ‘We hit a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,’ Schott recounted before focusing on just getting the ball to 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 kept his nerves steady. Two playoff holes were enough to secure victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated, and Schott remained flawless, sealing his triumph with a par.
Caddie as an anchor: ‘We talked about everything but golf’
A key role was played by his caddie. ‘Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,’ Schott said. ‘He completely kept me away 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 last putt was hard to put into words. ‘How I feel is indescribable. I have no words,’ Schott said. One thing was certain: ‘I