If you were seeking drama on the final day of the Dubai Invitational, then there was no shortage.

Grand Slam winning Rory McIlroy ignited a brilliant mid-round, five-holes in succession birdie barrage only to finish just shy of victory while good friend Shane Lowry imploded with a closing hole double-bogey to let slip success in the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational.

Spain’s Nacho Elvira took full advantage of Lowry’s demise, playing in the group behind the Irishman to birdie the 17th hole for a second day running and then from seven feet, calmly two-putt the last and win the title by a shot thanks to a closing 69 for a 10-under tally on the host Dubai Creek course.

The 38-year-old Madrid golfer had virtually led from the start to capture a third DP World Tour success.

BRAVO NACHO ….

Nacho Elvira leads from virtual start-to-finish to capture #DubaiInvitational BUT drama apenty @DubaiCreekGolf

Shane Lowry implodes at the last losing with closing double-bogey, Kiwi Dan Hillier grabs & @McIlroyRory shares with @ShaneLowryGolf & two… pic.twitter.com/KUnm8iNqVY

— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 18, 2026

Kiwi Daniel Hillier posted the best score on the last day, a flawless 65 that included a 13th hole eagle to finish second at nine-under.

A gutted Lowry shared third at eight-under to be tied with Spaniard David Puig (67), Frenchman Julien Guerrier (66) and McIlroy (68).

Lowry looked all set to capture the title having found the fairway down the 72nd only to find a left greenside bunker but in playing a third he got a flyer that found water from where the double winning Ryder Cup star chipped to five-feet with his fourth and two-putt for a ‘6’.

McIlroy was struggling early on in his first tournament of the New Year, posting a 10th bogey of the four days when he bogeyed the seventh hole at the host Dubai Creek Golf Club course.

He earlier had birdied the third but then for a second day running McIlroy bogeyed the fourth hole before finding a greenside bunker at the seventh and walking off with a bogey.

It seemed McIlroy’s chances of going one shot better in the event he finished joint runner-up in 2024 was heading for a similiar scenario in 2026.

Though as they say in golf – the tournament does not commence to the back nine on the final day – as McIlroy then brilliantly holed a 24-footer for birdie at the par-4 ninth, and start of five birdies in succession for McIlroy.

And it could easily had been six in succession as his 30-footer second shot at the par-3 14th stopped right on the edge of the hole.

Dissppointing for Rors the birdies dried-up, ending his campaign with five closing pars and a round of 68 to be tied in the clubhouse at nine-under with Kiwi Daniel Hillier.

Hillier was runner-up in last year’s Dubai Desert Classic and highlighted his closing Dubai Creek round with a 13th hole eagle ‘3’, along with four birdies in a blemish-free 65 for his nine-under effort.

In the now 20 years since McIlroy commenced a New Year as a pro, winning his first event of the year just one, and that being the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

In these two decades he’s produced a remarkable record of ‘first tournament’ achievement:

• First: One (2023)
• Second:  Six (2024, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012 and 2011.
• Third:  Five (2021, 2010, 2018, 2016 and 2010)
• Top 10s:  Three (T4th 2025, T4th 2014, T5th 2009)
• Other results:  Three (T11th 2008, T12th 2022, MC 2013)