In a thrilling playoff, Freddy Schott secures his first DP World Tour victory exclusively using Ping clubs.
At the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship 2026, Freddy Schott clinched his maiden win on the DP World Tour after a nerve-wracking playoff on the final day. The 24-year-old from Düsseldorf prevailed after the second hole of a playoff against Scotland’s Callum Hill and American Patrick Reed, who also finished the tournament at -17. Schott remained loyal to the renowned Japanese brand Ping for his choice of clubs.
Driver: Mini-Driver as Secret Weapon
The newly crowned champion relies on a mini-driver off the tee, similarly to Marco Penge, who recently adopted such a club. Schott’s driver is a prototype from Ping, added to the USGA’s Conforming List in January 2026. Ping is among the few manufacturers whose mini-drivers are not yet commercially available and are currently used only by top players. The driver features a ‘Prototype’ inscription on the sole and an adjustable weight at the back. An adjustable hosel and the ‘Spinsistency’ mark on the clubface complete this previously unseen model.
Schott also carries a Ping utility iron. Previously, he used a 2- or 3-iron from Ping’s iCrossover series depending on course conditions but has now been spotted with the new iDi utility iron from Ping, introduced at the end of 2025 and quickly adopted by several pros. The Ping iDi is a powerful long club combining modern tech with compact design, excellent feel, and high control, aimed at maximizing ball speed and stability for driving 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, in use for about a year after being introduced in early 2025. Before this, he played Ping’s i59 irons for two years. The Blueprint-S irons have forged 8620 carbon steel heads with a thin topline, narrow sole, and matte satin chrome finish. This series targets low-handicap golfers seeking irons with excellent control and performance. His wedges are also Ping, from the S259 family featuring precision-milled MicroMax grooves and a Hydropearl chrome finish designed to enhance friction and spin, especially in wet conditions. The S259 is the successor to the popular S159 series, available since early 2026.
Freddy Schott and His Crucial Putter in the Playoff
The final club in Schott’s bag is also from Ping, a brand known since 1959 for its distinctive putter sound. Schott favors a classic mallet-style putter and has been seen using similar models before. The Ping PLD Ketsch Custom putter, crafted to Schott’s specifications, offers precise roll and clear feedback. This putter helped Schott achieve the tournament’s best putting stats over four days, ultimately securing his win in the playoff.
Notably, Schott’s choice of ball deviates from his equipment brand: like many pros, he uses a Titleist Pro V1.