McIlroy Trails Elvira by Three in Dubai Invitational Third Round
In the ongoing Dubai Invitational, Rory McIlroy finds himself three shots behind leader Nacho Elvira, as the tournament approaches its final round. McIlroy, currently ranked second in the world, shot a third-round 68 at Dubai Creek Resort. This score consists of four birdies and one bogey, bringing his total to five under par, placing him in fifth position.
Elvira Maintains Lead
Nacho Elvira, representing Spain, also carded a 68 in the third round, maintaining a two-shot lead. Elvira is vying for his third victory on the DP World Tour. He aims to consolidate his position and secure a significant win before the closing round.
Chasing Pack
- Shane Lowry (Ireland) – tied for second place with 68
- Marcus Armitage (England) – tied for second place with 68
- Dylan Fritelli (South Africa) – tied for second place with 66
Shane Lowry faced a challenging round, finishing with a score of 70. He began poorly, dropping shots on the third and sixth holes but managed to recover with birdies at the seventh, ninth, and seventeenth. Lowry is aiming for his first individual title since his victory at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy Reflects on Performance
After his round, McIlroy spoke to Sky Sports about treating this tournament as a chance to regain form ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic. He noted the importance of shaking off any rust, especially after encountering difficulties on the course.
McIlroy opened the tournament with a 66, leading after the first round, but struggled with a 74 in the second round, which included hitting four shots into the water. He expressed satisfaction with his improvement on Saturday, stating, “I got off to a slow start but stayed patient and hung in there.”
Other Notable Performances
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and England’s Matt Wallace both reached three under par. Additionally, Tommy Fleetwood improved from a tough first-round 78 to score a 66 in the third round, bringing him to level par.
The final round promises to be thrilling, with McIlroy and other contenders vying for an early title in 2026.
