Dramatic Final Hole Collapse Costs Lowry Victory
Irish golfer Shane Lowry endured a heartbreaking finish at the Dubai Invitational on Sunday, squandering a one-shot lead on the 18th hole to hand victory to Spain's Nacho Elvira. Lowry, who had seized control of the tournament with a birdie on the 15th, saw his hopes shattered by a disastrous double bogey on the final hole.
Elvira's Steady Finish Secures Dream Win
Nacho Elvira, who began the final round with a two-stroke lead but had struggled early, held his nerve to par the 18th and clinch the title. His winning total was 10-under par 274, securing a one-shot victory over fast-finishing New Zealander Daniel Hillier. Elvira's triumph was sealed moments after Lowry's calamity, when the Spaniard birdied the 17th to retake control.
"It means the world," an emotional Elvira told Sky Sports. "If you had told me on Tuesday that I was going to be winning this I would never have believed you. It is a dream come true."
Lowry's Costly Errors on the 18th
Needing a par on the last to win, Lowry's challenge unravelled completely. His approach shot was powerful but wayward, finding the water hazard. After taking a penalty drop, his next shot found a greenside bunker, leading to a devastating double-bogey six. This dropped him to eight-under par, resulting in a tie for third place with Rory McIlroy and two other players.
McIlroy had mounted a charge himself, briefly holding a share of the lead after Elvira's early stutter. However, a missed birdie chance on the 17th ultimately left the Northern Irishman just short. Daniel Hillier's excellent final round of 65 propelled him into solo second, while England's Marcus Armitage fell away with bogeys and a double bogey on the last.
For Lowry, it was a bitter defeat in his bid for a first DP World Tour title since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship. The dramatic events on the 18th green at the Dubai Creek Resort provided a stunning conclusion to the tournament's inaugural edition, with Elvira emerging as the surprise but deserving champion.
