In the closing moments of the 2026 Dubai Invitational, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry looked set for a fabulous win to start the year on the golf course. That is until each player reaches the final challenge.
With victory in their sights, both McIlroy and Lowry bogeyed the 72nd hole to miss a dream start to 2026.
Here’s what happened.
Rory McIlroy’s epic rally derailed with closing bogey at the Dubai Invitational
Heading into Sunday’s final round, McIlroy was three shots off the lead and hungry to start his year with a bang. An early birdie on the third hole helped his cause, but then things went sideways for him five times grand champion.
Bogeys at 4 and 7 dropped McIlroy to four under for the tournament and well off the lead. It looked like he would have to settle for a top-10 finish after all.
;)
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But then Number 2 in the world went on to one of his hot streaks to completely change the narrative. Rory came back from five straight birdies on holes 9-13 to rocket back up the leaderboard into a tie for the lead on nine.
With five holes to go, McIlroy shared the top of the leaderboard with Daniel Hiller and 54-hole leader Nacho Elvira. Lowry was one shot back at eight under.
At the par-3 14th, McIlroy watched in horror as his 30-foot birdie attempt burned the edge of the cup, forcing him to tap for par. If his putt had fallen, it would have extended his birdie streak to six straight holes and given him the sole lead with four to play.
By the time McIlroy reached the watery par-4 18th hole at Dubai Creek Resort, he was still at nine under and tied with Elvira and Hiller. But Lowry had moved into the lead at 10 under.
Still, with a birdie at the end, a feat he managed in Round 1, McIlroy could have set himself up for a playoff. But the strongest hole on the course proved too much.
McIlroy lost his drive just behind a grove of palm trees and nearly into a lagoon. His second shot ended up in a backside bunker. He splashed to 15 feet, then missed his good putt.
The unfortunate bogey dropped McIlroy to eight under and out of contention.
But the drama was far from over.
Shane Lowry suffers disaster on the 18th hole to lose the Dubai Invitational
Once McIlroy bogeyed the 18th after his disappointing finish, things were looking up for Lowry, McIlroy’s friend and European Ryder Cup teammate.
Starting the final round two shots behind, the 2019 Open champion birdied three of his first four holes to take his place near the top of the leaderboard.
