Reed loses Bahrain playoff as Mickelson pulls out of first two LIV events due to “family health matter”
Freddy Schott. Picture: Getty Images
Patrick Reed failed in his bid for back-to-back DP World Tour wins when he bowed out at the first hole of a playoff for the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship that saw German Freddy Schott outgun Scotland’s Calum Hill.
The former LIV Golf star closed with a five-under 67 to come from four shots behind 54-hole leader Hill and make a playoff on 16-under after Schott bogeyed the 17th and Hill three-putted the last.
The 2018 Masters champion was the favourite to prevail but bowed out when he drove into sand at the first extra hole and made a bogey.
He’s now up to second in the Race to Dubai heading into this week’s Qatar Masters with Schott ninth after he was conceded his maiden DP World Tour win at the second tie hole.
Hill hooked his tee shot out of bounds on their second trip down the 18th and shanked his fourth into a lake.
He eventually found the putting surface in six but conceded when Schott hacked his third from greenside rough into the green.
“The way I feel is indescribable,” Schott said after winning in his 91st DP World Tour start. “I have no words for it. I’m just glad that I got it over the line, and we will see what the future holds.”
Hill smiled ruefully as his third DP World Tour title slipped away with some nervy play over the closing holes.
He shot a course record equalling 11-under 61 to lead by four shots at halfway and extended his two-shot 54-hole lead to four shots with three birdies in his first five holes.
A bogey at the sixth, followed by a double bogey at the eighth, left him trailing Schott, who turned in three-under, with nine to play.
But while a brilliant, par-saving chip at the 17th left him a shot in front playing the 72nd after Reed, Schott and Sergio Garcia had all held a share of the lead down the stretch, he three-putted from nearly 100 feet to give Schott and Reed a second chance.
Schott took it and jumped to ninth in the Race to Dubai Rankings and into the world’s top 200 while Garcia knocked some rust off his game heading to LIV Golf’s season-opening event in Riyadh as he shot 68 to tie for fourth with New Zealander Daniel Hillier.
MJ Viljoen. Picture: Getty Images
LIV Golf is reeling after Reed and Brooks Koepka recently quit the Saudi-backed tour, and they will also be without Phil Mickelson for their first two 72-hole events after the left-hander announced on social media that he would not be travelling to Riyadh or Australia due to a “family health matter”.
“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” Mickelson wrote.
“I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.”
At the HotelPlanner Tour’s season-opening SDC Championship, South Africa’s MJ Viljoen (70) beat compatriot Dean Germishuys (67) with a birdie at the first extra hole after they tied on 16 under.
The three Irishmen who made the cut all signed off with disappointing three-over 75s at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa.
Max Kennedy was joint 33rd on seven under and Liam Nolan a shot further back in 39th as Gary Hurley finished tied for 65th on level par.
