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DUBAI, February 3, 2024 – Rory McIlroy is within striking distance as the Dubai Invitational heads to a final-round showdown, sitting just three shots behind leader Nacho Elvira. The world number two is poised for a potential victory to kick off 2026 with a tournament win.
McIlroy Shakes Off Rust, Remains in Dubai Hunt
The Northern Irishman carded a third-round 68, positioning himself for a strong finish at Dubai Creek Resort.
- Nacho Elvira leads the tournament at five under par, two shots ahead of his nearest competitors.
- Rory mcilroys 68 on Saturday moved him to fifth place, three shots off the lead.
- Shane Lowry and Dylan Fritelli are among those challenging for the title, tied for second.
- McIlroy acknowledges the event is readiness for next week’s Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy’s Saturday performance-four birdies against a single bogey-was a marked advancement over Friday’s erratic round where he found water four times. “A little bit better than yesterday, kept the ball dry rather of the four water balls I had,” McIlroy reflected. He described Saturday as “a tricky enough day” with challenging winds, but ultimately rewarding after securing three birdies on the back nine.
“I got off to a slow start but stayed patient and hung in there and was rewarded with three birdies on the back nine. It’s great to go into the final round in contention, with a chance to win a tournament,” McIlroy said.
Spaniard Elvira also shot a 68, extending his lead to two strokes as he pursues his third DP World Tour title. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who had shared the lead with elvira after the second round, battled to a 70 and is now tied for second alongside England’s Marcus Armitage (68) and south African Dylan Fritelli, who impressed with a 66.
Lowry’s round began with dropped shots at the third and sixth holes, but he recovered with birdies at the seventh, ninth, and 17th. The former Open champion is aiming for his first individual title since winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2022.
McIlroy admitted to using the tournament as a “practice week” to “shake the rust off” before next week’s Dubai Desert Classic,but emphasized his desire to win. He opened up about his struggles on Friday, attributing them to a lack of competitive play. Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and Englishman Matt Wallace are both at three under par, while Tommy Fleetwood improved substantially with a third-round 66 after a 78 on Friday, moving to level par.
Why: The Dubai Invitational is serving as a tune-up for the Dubai Desert Classic. who: Nacho Elvira currently leads, with Rory McIlroy three shots behind. What: The tournament is heading into a final-round showdown. How: Elvira maintained his lead with a 68, while McIlroy improved with a 68 of his own, featuring three back-nine birdies. The tournament concluded on Sunday, February 4th, with Rory McIlroy ultimately finishing second, one stroke behind Nacho Elvira, who secured the victory at 5-under par. McIlroy’s final-round 69 wasn’t enough to overcome Elvira’s steady play, marking Elvira’s third DP World Tour title.
