Freddy Schott won his maiden DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion after a play-off at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.
Freddy takes his Schott
Schott won his first DP World Tour title after beating Calum Hill and Patrick Reed in a play-off in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The trio were locked together at 17 under par through 72 holes after Reed shot 67 on Sunday to make up a four-shot overnight deficit to Hill, who began the day two clear but had to settle for a 71 after a bogey at the difficult final hole. Schott carded 69 to join the pair. Reed bogeyed the first play-off hole to drop out of contention and after Hill went out of bounds second time round, before sending his fourth shot into the water, he sportingly conceded without making Schott putt out for the win. Asked to sum up his thoughts, Schott said: "I have no idea. It's just amazing, I'm just extremely happy, surprised... I don't know what's happening right now. I'm just so happy. I could have done it the regular way, that would have also been fine! But to do it this way feels even more special so I'm just glad it happened this way."
Hill matches course record
At the halfway stage, it was Hill who held a four-shot lead after carding a career-best 61 to equal the course record in the second round at Royal Golf Club. On his 140th start on the DP World Tour, the Scot fired 11 birdies – including five in his closing six holes – in a flawless performance in the second round. Despite that, he just fell short of claiming the $70,000 NEXO Course Record Award on offer for the first player this week to lower the mark set by Brandon Robinson Thompson last year.
A decade more of world-class golf in Bahrain to come
The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship will remain on the DP World Tour schedule through until at least 2036 after a new multi-year partnership with the Bahrain Olympic Committee was signed. The extended agreement was officially unveiled at last week's Opening Ceremony. His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, said: “The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship represents an exceptional competitive platform, offering significant prize rewards and a prestigious pathway toward major global competitions. In this regard, we are honoured to announce the renewal of the agreement for the Kingdom of Bahrain to host this championship for the next ten years. This extension reflects deep-seated international confidence in Bahrain’s professional organisational capabilities, our dedication to sustainable success, and our commitment to strengthening global sporting partnerships.” Bapco Energies, the integrated energy company, confirmed they will remain as the Title Partner of the tournament until 2028, while it was also announced Royal Golf Club will also remain as the host venue for the 2027 and 2028 editions.
Hillier and Micheluzzi try out sand golf
It’s golf... but not as many of us know it. A five-minute drive away from Royal Golf Club lies Awali Golf Club. Established in 1937, it is the oldest desert golf course in the Gulf – and it is made entirely of sand. In the lead-up to last week’s stop on the International Swing, DP World Tour professionals Daniel Hillier and David Micheluzzi went along to experience the challenge.
High wire act
It was not only the players enjoying themselves in Bahrain last week - DP World Tour commentator John E Morgan got a taste of the high life on Bahrain's biggest zip line. Anyone fancy this?
