Freddy Schott talks about nerves, mistakes, and relief following his first DP World Tour win in Bahrain.
After his triumph at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, 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 Düsseldorf native after claiming his first DP World Tour victory. In a dramatic playoff at the Royal Golf Club, Schott prevailed over 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 reasonably well with a good rhythm. But with the back nine came the tension: \”Of course, the nerves kicked in from then on.\”
Nonetheless, Freddy Schott stayed composed. \”I was glad to manage it reasonably well – not perfect, but okay,\” he reflected. Imperfect moments became clear especially on hole 11. Following a missed eagle opportunity on 10, an unlucky tee shot ensued: \”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 hot behind the green, and the subsequent chip failed. \”Two putts, just a dumb double bogey.\”
Birdies at the Right Time and a Shared Lead
Rather than letting the setback derail him, Schott made a conscious choice. \”Usually, we get a ride from 11 to 12, but I said no, I’ll walk to calm down and stay in the moment.\” He reminded himself of the essence of the sport: \”These are the moments you play for; this is why you play golf – so try to push the pedal 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 \”somehow to the clubhouse\” in the final holes. At 17 under par, he shared the lead with Reed and Hill after 72 holes – a playoff was inevitable. Schott kept his nerve in the playoff. Two holes were enough to seal the victory. Hill faltered, Reed was already out – Schott made a flawless par to complete his triumph.
Caddie as an Anchor: \”We Talked About Everything Except Golf\”
His caddie also played a key role. \”Luckily, I talked a lot with Taka,\” Schott said. \”He kept me away from all 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 final putt was beyond words. \”How I feel