Rory McIlroy remains in contention for a tournament victory in his first competitive outing of 2026, sitting three shots behind third-round leader Nacho Elvira at the Dubai Invitational. The world number two fired a solid third-round 68 at Dubai Creek Resort on Saturday, keeping his hopes alive ahead of Sunday’s final round.
Rory McIlroy is playing in his first competitive tournament of 2026. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Elvira Extends Lead

Spain’s Nacho Elvira matched McIlroy’s 68 to move two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard, aiming for the third DP World Tour win of his career. Elvira has displayed consistency throughout the tournament, combining skill and composure to take a narrow lead heading into the final round.

Lowry, Armitage, and Fritelli in Pursuit

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who shared the lead with Elvira after the second round, carded a 70 on Saturday to sit in a tie for second alongside England’s Marcus Armitage (68) and South African Dylan Fritelli, who impressed with a 66.

Lowry got off to a shaky start, dropping shots at the third and sixth holes, but fought back with birdies on the seventh, ninth, and 17th holes. The former Open champion is seeking his first individual title since winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2022, and he remains a strong contender for Sunday’s finale.

McIlroy Uses Tournament as Competitive Tune-Up

For McIlroy, this week has served partly as a “practice week” to shake off rust ahead of next week’s Dubai Desert Classic, but he has shown he is capable of competing at the highest level. After an opening-round 66, McIlroy struggled in the second round with a 74, hitting four balls into water hazards.

“I got off to a slow start but stayed patient and hung in there and was rewarded with three birdies on the back nine,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “A little bit better than yesterday, kept the ball dry instead of the four water balls I had. It’s great to go into the final round in contention, with a chance to win a tournament.”

Third-Round Standings (Selected Players)

• -8 N Elvira (Spain) – Leader
• -6 S Lowry (Ireland), M Armitage (England), D Fritelli (South Africa) – Tied 2nd
• -5 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland) – 5th
• -4 D Puig (Spain), T Olesen (Denmark), J Kruyswijk (South Africa)
• Selected others: -3 M Wallace (England), E Ferguson (Scotland); Par T Fleetwood (England)

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and England’s Matt Wallace also made notable moves on Saturday, reaching three under par. Tommy Fleetwood bounced back from a second-round 78 with a third-round 66 to reach level par.

Looking Ahead to the Final Round

With just one round remaining, McIlroy, Lowry, and Elvira are all positioned for a thrilling Sunday showdown. Fans can expect high drama as the players battle for the Dubai Invitational title, combining strategic play, precision, and nerves of steel.