In a thrilling playoff, Freddy Schott secures his first DP World Tour victory using exclusively Ping clubs.
Freddy Schott clinched his maiden win on the DP World Tour at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship 2026 in a nail-biting playoff on the final day. The 24-year-old from Düsseldorf triumphed only after the second hole of a playoff against Scotland’s Callum Hill and American Patrick Reed, who also finished the tournament at 17-under par. Schott remained loyal to the renowned Japanese brand Ping for his club selection throughout the event.
Mini Driver: The Secret Weapon off the Tee
The newly crowned winner relied on a mini driver off the tee, similar to Marco Penge who recently adopted the same type of club. Schott’s driver is a prototype model from Ping that was added to the USGA’s Conforming List in January of this year. Ping is among the few manufacturers whose mini drivers are not yet commercially available and are primarily used by top professional players. Notable features include the ‘Prototype’ label on the sole, an adjustable weight at the back, an adjustable hosel, and the inscription ‘Spinsistency’ on the clubface, making this model unique.
Schott also carries a Ping utility iron in his bag. Previously, depending on the course layout, he used a 2- or 3-iron from the Ping iCrossover series but was recently seen with a Ping iDi utility iron. Introduced at the end of 2025, the PING iDi is a powerful long-iron offering advanced technology combined with a compact shape, excellent feel, and high control. It aims to deliver maximum ball speeds and stability and is a reliable option for tee shots (as a driving iron) or long approach shots.
Ping Blueprint-S for Control and Performance
For his regular irons (4-PW), Schott uses clubs from the Ping Blueprint-S series, a setup he has employed for about a year after their release in early 2025. Before that, he played Ping i59 irons for over two years. The Blueprint-S irons feature forged 8620 carbon steel heads, a thin topline, narrow sole, and a matte satin chrome finish. This series is designed for low-handicap golfers who seek irons that combine precise control with excellent performance.
His wedges are also from Ping, belonging to the S259 family. The S259 wedges have precision-milled MicroMax grooves on the clubface and a Hydropearl chrome finish that maximizes friction to enhance spin, particularly in wet conditions. This series, succeeding the well-known S159, has been available since early 2026.
Freddy Schott’s Crucial Putter in the Playoff
The final club in Schott’s bag is also from Ping, a brand synonymous since 1959 with the distinctive sound of putting. Schott favors the classic mallet design for his putters and has been seen using this style previously. His Ping PLD Ketsch Custom Putter, crafted to Schott’s specifications, offers precise roll and clear feedback. The putter contributed to Schott recording the best putting statistics over four tournament days and ultimately led him to victory in the playoff.
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