Spain’s Nacho Elvira woke up yesterday in Dubai with two DP World Tour victories. He went to sleep having earned a third in the most surreal way, winning the Dubai Invitational by holding off the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
The 38-year-old was seemingly in control early at Dubai Creek Resort, making birdies on the first, fourth and seventh holes in the final round to take a three-shot lead. But consecutive bogeys on the eighth and ninth allowed McIlroy, Lowry, Marcus Armitage and Kiwi Daniel Hillier to all stay within reach.
Then, after a nice drive on the par-5 10th hole, Elvira hit his approach way right and into the water.
“That was a complete whiff,” one television announcer said.
“He won’t hit a worse shot this year,” another commented.
He also may not make a better par this year.
Some pars are bigger than others, but this from Nacho Elvira at the 10th could be the best he makes all year.
Standing on the 8th tee, Nacho had a three shot lead at Dubai Creek. He went onto make back-to-back bogeys and shared the lead with Marcus Armitage.
He then saved par… pic.twitter.com/ToPlHySqJP
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 18, 2026
Elvira dropped on the side of a slope 89 metres from the pin, hit a wonderful wedge shot to about eight feet and made the putt for a helpful par. He parred the next six holes, birdied the 17th and closed with another par to shoot 69 and top Hillier by one. McIlroy and Lowry were in a group two behind. Lowry made a double-bogey on the 18th hole when a par would’ve put him into a playoff with Elvira.
“I’m going to blame it on my caddie; it was all his fault,” a joking Elvira said of his dreaded water ball on the 10th hole. “I knew at some point it was going to be difficult, especially with the great players in front of me. I managed somehow to make a par on 10. Managed somehow to make a par on 11. I tried to stay patient and I was very lucky to make birdie on 17.”
This was Elvira’s third DP World Tour victory and first in nearly two years.
“It’s a dream come true, especially having the family here,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed to have my kids walking up to me with a win and anything that happens after this… nothing compares to this.”
