Rory McIlroy reacts to his wayward drive on the 18th hole Sunday at the 2026 Dubai Invitational.Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
In the final moments of the 2026 Dubai Invitational, both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry seemed primed for a fairytale win to kickstart the year in pro golf. That is until each player reached the final challenge.
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With victory in their sights, both McIlroy and Lowry stumbled on the 72nd hole to miss out on a dream start to 2026.
Here’s what happened.
Rory McIlroy’s epic rally spoiled with closing bogey at Dubai Invitational
Heading into Sunday’s final round, McIlroy was three shots off the lead and hungry to start his year off with a bang. An early birdie at the 3rd hole helped his case, but then things went sideways for the five-time major champion.
Bogeys at 4 and 7 dropped McIlroy to four under for the tournament and well off the lead. It seemed he’d have to settle for a top-10 after all.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the 13th hole on day one of the Dubai Invitational 2026 at Dubai Creek Resort on January 15, 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
But then the World No. 2 went on one of his trademark hot streaks to change the narrative completely. Rory reeled off five-straight birdies on holes 9-13 to rocket back up the leaderboard into a tie for the lead at nine under.
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With five holes to go, McIlroy shared the top of the leaderboard with Daniel Hiller and 54-hole leader Nacho Elvira. Lowry was one shot back at eight under.
At the par-3 14th, McIlroy watched in dismay as his 30-foot birdie try burned the edge of the cup, forcing him to tap in for par. Had his putt dropped, it would have stretched his birdie streak to six-straight holes and would have given him the solo lead with four to play.
By the time McIlroy reached the watery par-4 18th hole at Dubai Creek Resort, he was still at nine under and tied with Elvira and Hiller. But Lowry had jumped into the lead at 10 under.
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Still, with a birdie at the last, a feat he accomplished in Round 1, McIlroy could have set himself up for a playoff. But the toughest hole on the course proved to be too much.
McIlroy lost his drive right behind a grove of palm trees and nearly into a lagoon. His second shot ended up in a back greenside bunker. He splashed out to 15 feet, then just missed his par-saving putt.
The unfortunate bogey dropped McIlroy to eight under and out of contention.
But the drama was far from over.
Shane Lowry suffers disaster at 18th hole to lose Dubai Invitational
Once McIlroy walked off the 18th green after his disappointing finish, things were looking good for Lowry, McIlroy’s friend and European Ryder Cup teammate.
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Starting the final round two shots back, the 2019 Open champion drained three birdies in his first four holes to stake his place near the top of the leaderboard.
A birdie at the par-5 13th hole moved Lowry into a tie for the lead with McIlroy, Elvira and Hiller at nine under.
Then at 15, Lowry drained a 27-footer for a monumental birdie that moved him into the solo lead at 10 under.
That lead held all the way to the 18th tee, when Lowry, close enough to taste victory, striped his drive into the fairway. When McIlroy made bogey ahead of him, Lowry’s chances looked even better.
But then disaster struck. Lowry’s approach shot went too long and ended up in the same bunker as Rory’s had moments earlier. His bunker shot sailed back over the green and into the water, eliciting a penalty stroke.
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Lowry eventually putted out for a double-bogey 6, dropping him to eight under (T3) with McIlroy and losing him the lead for good.
Shortly thereafter, Elvira made birdie at 17 to take the solo lead at 10 under and closed with a steady par to win.
For Elvira, it represented his third-career DP World Tour victory and his first since 2024.
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