Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, 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 some time, but it’s incredible,’ said the Düsseldorf native, who celebrated his first DP World Tour victory at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. In a dramatic playoff, Schott prevailed over Patrick Reed and Calum Hill, marking the most important chapter of his career so far.
Freddy Schott: \”Nerves kicked in on the Back Nine\”
The final day pushed the German to his limits. ‘It was tough, especially towards the end,’ Schott described the hours on the course. The start was ‘okay’ as he played decently with a good rhythm. But nerves kicked in on the back nine. ‘Of course, the nerves set in from there.’
Schott remained composed throughout. ‘I was glad I managed it pretty well—not perfect, but okay,’ he reflected. The imperfection showed particularly 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 the subsequent chip missed. ‘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. ‘We usually get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said: okay, I’m not taking the ride, I’ll walk to calm myself 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 push the pedal and keep going.’
He did just that. ‘We hit a beautiful shot on 12, a good birdie on 13,’ Schott recounted, before focusing on just getting it into the clubhouse. With 17 under par after 72 holes, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill—setting the stage for the inevitable playoff. Schott kept his nerves in check in the playoff. Two holes were enough to seal his victory. Hill faltered, Reed had already been eliminated, and Schott remained flawless, finishing his triumph with a par.
Caddie as anchor: \”We talked about everything, except golf\”
A key role was also played by his caddie. ‘Fortunately, I talked a lot with Taka,’ said Schott. ‘He completely 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 almost indescribable. ‘How I feel is beyond words. I have no words,’ said Schott. One thing was clear: ‘I’m just glad I got it over