Elvira Joins The Greats Of Spanish Golf Winning In Dubai

2 hours ago by 0

Nacho Elvira has joined the the greats of Spanish golf in capturing the Dubai Invitationl in Dubai.

There was emotional scenes with Elvira was greeted by his wife and two children, moments after calmly two-putting the last to win by a shot on the host Dubai Creek course.

The 38-year-old Madrid golfer looked to have earned himself a spot in a play-0ff when he birdied the 17th hole to move to 10-under and tied with Shane Lowry, who was also on 10-under playing the last.

Then to the shock of all, the double Ryder Cup winning Irishman thinned his third shot out of 18th hole greenside bunker, and into the water guarding the green.

Lowry took a penalty fourth shot ahead holing out for a double-bogey ‘6’ and eventually finish in a tie for third at eight-under with fellow Ryder Cupper Rory McIlroy and two others.

Elvira split the final fairway with his drive, landed his second some seven yards from the pin and then putted a third to around 15 inches for a tap-in victory par.

The win is Elvira’s third DP World Tour success after earlier victories at the 2021 Cazoo Open in Wales and the 2024 Soudal Open in Belguim.

“It means the world to come out on top”, he said holding one of his daughters.

“If you had of told me at the start of the week I would end the week as the winner, I would never have believed you.  It’s a dream come true winning with the family being here, and anything that happens after this ….. well nothing compares to this”.

Though Elvira has his own trouble, having started the last day two shots clear of the field and then increasing that margin to three thanks to birdies at the first, fourth and seventh holes.  There was then mishap for Elvira when dropped shots at eight and nine to now be one behind.

Elvira then found the water with his drive off the 10th, and looked almost certain to drop a third shot but remarkably holed a nine-footer to save par.

It turned out to be a run of seven straight pars, from 10 to 16, before Elvira’s fortunes changed, holing a seven-footer for birdie at the 17th and into a tie with Lowry.

The rest they say is history.

“It’s feels unusual. I mean, I’ve always been a slow starter at the beginning of the season”, said Eliva speaking also with the written media present.

“So, to get a win at the beginning of the season like this is unusual, and on a course like this, I love it. When we came here two years ago, I fell in love with it. I think it’s a fantastic course, a fantastic venue, and I couldn’t be more happy to be honest”.

And victory in the Dubai sees him join the greats of Spanish golf having tasted victory in the UAEs most popular emirate, with six fellow Spaniards having won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, commencing later this week at the Emirates Golf Club.

Those winners of the Desert Classic include: Seve Ballesteros (1993), Jose Maria Olazabal (1998) and then three Spanish victories in succession, Miguel Angel Jimenez (2010), Alvaro Quiros (2011) and Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2012) and Sergio Garcia (2017).

Elvira was also asked his thoughts looking back on the events that unfolded on the final hole.

“I had no idea Shane had double bogeyed that hole”, he said.

“The leaderboards are facing the other way, so I had no idea. I tried to go for it, and I was lucky enough that I had enough club to go just a little bit past the pin.

“Then when I turned around and I knew I had two putts to win, I find of felt more nervous to be honest. It’s a good position to be in but I was just a little bit nervous. But very happy. Happy also it turned around on my side”.

Victory sends Elvira from 72nd to fourth on the Race to Dubai money list while he’s looking at a big OGWR jump from his current World No. 190th position when the rankings are adjusted early tomorrow (Monday).

 



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *