Nacho Elvira triumphed over Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, and David Hillier in the Dubai Invitational final. Marcel Siem finished in the top 15. Nacho Elvira won a thrilling battle against high-profile names to secure the first DP World Tour title of the year. The Spaniard had extended his lead to three strokes but faltered with bogeys at the end of the front nine and hit water on the 10th hole. Although he saved par there, he opened the door for contenders like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, David Hillier, and Marcus Armitage, who were all tied for the lead after just over halfway through the final round.
DP World Tour: Exciting Final Battle at Dubai Invitational
McIlroy surged into a shared lead with five birdies in a row but slipped back with a bogey on the 18th. Shane Lowry broke away from the pack and took sole lead with a monster putt on the 15th hole.
SHANE LOWRY TAKES THE LEAD ☘️#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/2cr5rf5d0I
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 18, 2026
Elvira caught up at the 17th, turning the tournament decision into a duel at the 18th. There, the Spaniard showed stronger nerves with a solid par after missing the green. Lowry, however, hit the bunker with his second shot and then sent the ball over the green into the water. He double-bogeyed, dropping to third place, which he shared with McIlroy.
This victory marked Elvira’s third on tour; he last won the Soudal Open in May 2024.
Other Notable Performances: Marcel Siem and Nicolai von Dellingshausen
Marcel Siem ignited on the first final day of the new year, climbing to T13 with a 66-round and narrowly missing the top 10. Siem rallied nine birdies but also took four bogeys, often due to missed greens. At the 18th, he landed awkwardly on the edge of a water hazard, taking a penalty drop and narrowly missing a par-saving putt. Ultimately