Dubai Invitational Leaderboard: Shane Lowry Leads With Rory McIlroy One Back

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2026-01-18T11:45:19.761Z

GOING FOR IT

McIlroy’s ball is down deep in the rough on the right side, and he still has 132 yards to go. There’s water halfway between him and the hole, and I’m not sure his ball will even reach that. You also worry about a potential injury.

Well, it wasn’t short. Quite the opposite. McIlroy’s ball fired out of the rough like a rocket and smacked into the hospitality stand behind the 18th before bouncing into the back bunker. This has to go in, or McIlroy’s race is run.

2026-01-18T11:41:17.855Z

LEADING PAIR MISS CHANCES

Elvira had 25 feet or so at the 14th, taken from the fringe, but it ran just past the edge of the hole and stays out. That was close. If it had gone in, the Spaniard would have drawn back alongside Lowry.

Speaking of, the Irishman also fails to make the most of his chance at 17 and will probably need a birdie at the last to make sure he ends in at least a play-off.

2026-01-18T11:37:48.942Z

WIDE RIGHT

McIlroy backs off his drive at the 18th at first but settles back in and swipes one well off to the right, landing it in the rough. Two years ago, he stuck his drive in the drink on the left, so there was obviously no chance that was happening again.

However, McIlroy’s already-slim chances of victory will depend on the lie and look at the green he has now. That was a pretty poor drive from the World No.2, it has to be said.

2026-01-18T11:34:09.727Z

LOWRY IN POSITION

Having found the centre of the 17th fairway, Lowry takes advantage by giving himself no more than 20 feet for birdie. If that goes in, you feel it might well by the Irishman’s first solo stroke-play win since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship…

2026-01-18T11:30:57.764Z

TOO AGGRESSIVE

McIlroy makes an aggressive stroke but fires his birdie effort three to four feet past the hole. Luckily, the five-time Major winner tidies up coming back, but he needs a birdie at the last or that will be another runner-up finish at this event.

2026-01-18T11:27:00.442Z

MCILROY HAS A LOOK AT BIRDIE

On the awkward 17th hole, McIlroy finds the fairway but then slightly pushes his approach into the heart of the green. It’s a chance, but not a great one. Nevertheless, with the way he’s putted today, you wouldn’t rule it out.

Just behind, Lowry taps in for par on the 16th after leaving his birdie try perilously short.

2026-01-18T11:25:08.418Z

HILLIER SIGNS FOR A 65

The Kiwi had a good look at birdie on the final hole, but he just under-read the putt from 12 feet and it trickled off to the right a little earlier than he’d have liked. Still, there’s a chance he could be a part of a play-off. A small chance, mind.

2026-01-18T11:16:56.801Z

LOWRY INTO THE LEAD

Wow! What a putt from Shane Lowry! The Irishman really wasn’t happy with his approach to the 15th having left himself 25 feet or so, but there are no pictures on the scorecard and it says a birdie two now. Lowry up to 10-under and leads on his own.

SHANE LOWRY TAKES THE LEAD ☘️#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/2cr5rf5d0IJanuary 18, 2026

2026-01-18T11:14:29.785Z

MCILROY PARS 15

It wasn’t the smoothest hole from McIlroy, who found the first cut and then a little run-off area near the green, but a tidy up-and-down has kept him in that leading four.

2026-01-18T11:12:42.900Z

GREAT BOGEY

Marcus Armitage was in big trouble after that waterball, but a superb long-range bogey putt will make him feel an awful lot better now. He drops just a shot, but is now out of the leading pack and sits alongside David Puig, who just made birdie himself.

2026-01-18T10:59:48.875Z

ARMITAGE IN THE WATER

At the par-3 14th, Armitage appeared to strike his tee shot wonderfully, but a gust of wind may have taken it out of the air and plopped it into the water just short of the green. That is a really tough break for the Englishman.

2026-01-18T10:57:47.593Z

FIVE TIED AT THE TOP

Marcus Armitage two-putts from miles out at the 13th for a welcome birdie which puts him on nine-under as well.

Moments later, Lowry sticks a wedge really close on the same hole and was left with a much more comfortable birdie try.

There are now five players tied for the lead, including McIlroy and Lowry. Superb stuff.

2026-01-18T10:56:12.184Z

FIVE STRAIGHT AND NO MORE

McIlroy was six strokes behind earlier in the final round, but five birdies in a row around the turn has catapulted the five-time Major winner into a share. He’s feeling white hot right now, and there was almost a long-range birdie to add to the bunch, but it stopped painfully short of the hole.

McIlroy remains tied through 14 holes.

Rory McIlroy comes THIS close to making it six consecutive birdies and to take the solo lead 🫣#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/vHOzh1j7eGJanuary 18, 2026

2026-01-18T10:53:59.863Z

HILLIER MISSES CHANCE

Don’t forget about Daniel Hillier. The New Zealander is a part of the three-way tie currently, but he could have hit the front on his own if that makeable birdie putt on the par-3 15th had dropped. It didn’t, and he’s running out holes.

2026-01-18T10:47:28.383Z

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly’s coverage of the 2026 Dubai Invitational final round at Dubai Creek Golf Club. With names such as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry right in contention, we’re sure for a thrilling back nine here.

Nacho Elvira was at least two strokes ahead not that long ago, but consecutive bogeys and a rally from McIlroy and co. has seen that gap close to nothing. The final group is on the 12th and praying for some positive momentum to fall their way in order to see off McIlroy.

Can Elvira find something? I’ll let you know over these closing holes. Thank you for tuning in!

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