Rory McIlroy has given himself a fighting chance of victory at the Dubai Invitational after a determined third-round performance on Saturday, 17th January 2026.
Elvira Holds Narrow Advantage
The Northern Irishman carded a three-under-par 68 at the Dubai Creek Resort, leaving him three strokes adrift of the tournament leader, Spain's Nacho Elvira. Elvira, who also shot a 68, holds a two-shot cushion over the chasing pack heading into the final day.
That chasing group is tightly bunched, with Ireland's Shane Lowry, England's Marcus Armitage, and South Africa's Dylan Frittelli all tied for second place. McIlroy's round was a significant improvement on his disappointing three-over 74 on Friday, which included five bogeys.
McIlroy's Back Nine Charge
McIlroy's penultimate round began with a birdie at the opening par-four, but he gave the shot back with a bogey-six at the fourth. However, the four-time major champion showcased his resilience with a strong finish, racking up three birdies on the back nine to keep his title hopes firmly alive.
Reflecting on his impressive record in season-opening events, which includes one win, six runner-up finishes, and 15 top-five placings, McIlroy said: "I would say the key to that is the opportunity to work on some things when you have a little bit of time off over the Christmas period, and then the enthusiasm to start a new year and start fresh."
He added: "I have always loved coming out here to the Middle East and to Dubai and playing in these tournaments, even as an amateur. I have been coming here for over 20 years and it’s a place I’m comfortable in."
Chasing Pack Stays in Touch
Overnight co-leader Shane Lowry, seeking his first DP World Tour win since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship, slipped back slightly with a one-under 70. Despite bogeys at the third and sixth, he responded with three birdies in his last twelve holes.
Marcus Armitage recovered from a dropped shot at the seventh with four birdies on the back nine, while Dylan Frittelli produced the round of the day, a bogey-free 66 featuring five birdies. England's Matt Wallace sits five shots off the lead after a 69.
Tommy Fleetwood's title defence effectively ended with a 78 on Friday, but he showed character with a superb third-round 66, though he remains eight shots behind. "Golf is hard and every now and again it is very humbling," Fleetwood admitted. "I scored the absolute worst I could... So I’m just happy to have played well today."
All eyes will now be on the final round to see if McIlroy can mount a charge or if Nacho Elvira can secure a notable victory.
