Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief after his maiden 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 fully sunk in. It will take some time, but it’s incredible,\” said the player from Düsseldorf, who celebrated his first DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club. In a dramatic playoff, Schott triumphed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most significant chapter in 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 quite well with a good rhythm. But on the back nine, the tension set in: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in from there.\”
Still, Schott kept his composure. \”I was glad I managed it quite well — not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. The imperfection showed particularly on hole 11. After missing an eagle on 10, a mis-hit drive 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 ended up \”very hot\” behind the green and the following chip failed, resulting in \”two putts, just a dumb double bogey.\”
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Rather than getting thrown off by the setback, Schott made a conscious decision. \”We usually get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: Okay, I won’t take it, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the core of his sport: \”These are the moments you’re here for; that’s why you play golf — so try to hit the gas and keep going.\”
He did just that. \”We played a beautiful shot on 12, made a good birdie on 13,\” Schott reported before focusing on simply \”getting it into the clubhouse\” in the final holes. With 17 under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill — a playoff was inevitable. In the playoff, Schott kept his nerves steady. Two holes were enough to secure the win. Hill faltered, Reed was already out, and Schott stayed mistake-free, finishing with a par to seal his triumph.
Caddie as an Anchor: \”We Talked About Everything but Golf\”
His caddie played a key role. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He completely distracted me from all those thoughts. We talked about everything, just not 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 describe. \”How I feel is indescrib