Spain’s Nacho Elvira claimed a thrilling victory at the Dubai Invitational, narrowly defeating Ireland’s Shane Lowry in a dramatic final round that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The 38-year-old secured the third title of his professional career, overcoming pressure from Lowry and a stacked leaderboard featuring golf stars including Rory McIlroy and Daniel Hillier.
Shane Lowry found water on the 18th hole as he missed out on a first individual title since 2022. Photo credit: Getty Images.

Final Round Drama at Dubai Invitational

Lowry held a one-shot lead going into the 18th hole but suffered heartbreak when a bunker shot sailed past the flag and rolled into the water hazard on the far side of the green. This misstep dropped him to eight under par, handing Elvira the advantage.

Elvira, a hole behind, had earlier made a critical birdie on the 17th to move onto 10 under, joining Lowry at the top of the leaderboard. Maintaining his composure, the Spaniard secured a par on the final hole, clinching the title in front of his family and supporters.

“This means the world. If you had told me on Tuesday that I was going to be winning this, I would never have believed you,” Elvira said. “It’s a dream come true, especially having my family here. Whatever happens now will not come close to this.”

Rory McIlroy and the Midfield Challenge

Rory McIlroy, Masters champion and Ryder Cup teammate of Lowry, was also in contention, tying for the lead midway down the back nine alongside Elvira, Lowry, England’s Marcus Armitage, and New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier. McIlroy’s early slow start put him behind, but a streak of five consecutive birdies brought him into contention.

However, fate mirrored Lowry’s struggle on the 18th. A poor tee shot left McIlroy in deep rough, and despite a recovery attempt, he landed in a bunker, eliminating his chance of victory. Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy told Sky Sports:

“I was just trying to get the most out of what I had. I didn’t have the greatest of starts and I wasn’t really focused on winning, I was just trying to piece it together with good swings. It was still a good first week back and I learned a lot about my game. I wasn’t very sharp, but hopefully I’m a bit sharper now going into next week.”

Elvira’s Road to Victory

Elvira’s comeback was built on resilience. After back-to-back bogeys on the 8th and 9th holes, he remained in contention thanks to a remarkable recovery on the 10th, where he took a drop after finding water but still made par. His consistency down the stretch, coupled with nerves of steel, ultimately earned him the Dubai Invitational title.

Lowry, meanwhile, will reflect on what could have been. The Irishman had surged into the solo lead with a birdie on the 13th hole, putting himself in prime position to win his first individual title since 2022. However, the dramatic conclusion left him just short.

Dubai Invitational Final Leaderboard (Selected Top Finishers)

• -10 N Elvira (Spain) – Winner
• -9 D Hillier (New Zealand)
• -8 S Lowry (Ireland), R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), D Puig (Spain), J Guerrier (France)
• Selected others: -6 M Armitage (England), M Wallace (England), -1 E Ferguson (Scotland), G Forrest (Scotland), Par T Fleetwood (England)

The tournament showcased high-level golf, tight competition, and a dramatic finish, highlighting the depth of talent in the field and setting the stage for an exciting 2026 golf season.