Shane Lowry explains disaster finish at Dubai Invitational: "This game is nuts"
Shane Lowry could not hide his disappointment after he "gave" Spain's Nacho Elvira his third DP World Tour title at the Dubai Invitational.
Shane Lowry says his "disaster" finish to the Dubai Invitational was "simply not good enough".
Former Open champion Lowry, 38, has not won a professional golf tournament since the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
He came extremely close to ending his winless drought over the weekend at Dubai Creek Resort and, in truth, should've been involved in a sudden-death play-off at the very least with eventual champion Nacho Elvira.
Lowry, Europe's Ryder Cup hero last September, forged a one-shot lead heading down the last but signed off with a double-bogey after finding the water with his third shot.
He tried to hit a "soft 9-iron" into the heart of the green with his second and overcooked his escape from the bunker, his golf ball trickling into the water.
In the end, Elvira won his third DP World Tour title by one stroke and Lowry had to settle for a share of third alongside Masters champion Rory McIlroy, LIV Golf recruit David Puig and Frenchman Julie Guerrier.
Lowry told a small group of reporters, including The Scotsman's Martin Demptster, that what transpired was "a disaster".
"That's what that was," Lowry said. "What can you do? You have to just learn from it and move on, lads.
"This game is nuts. I've just started my 18th season on tour and I'll never figure it out. I tried my best, did everything I could and hit the wrong club up the last. And that cost me a play-off."
Asked to describe his thought process on the final hole, Lowry said: "I was just trying to hit a soft 9.
"If you hit a wedge at the flag and it comes out a little soft, it goes right into the water.
"In hindsight, I probably would have been better doing that because you get it up and down from there. But the bunker shot was shocking - it's not good enough.
"I should be winning that. But I didn't and this is going to hurt for a day or two. I haven't won in a few years. It's hard to get over the line."
Watch what happened here:
Nightmare for Shane Lowry on the final hole as his bunker shot races across the green to find the water pic.twitter.com/szCyuiamuh
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 18, 2026
The 60-man Dubai Invitational field had plenty of talent.
Aside from the likes of Lowry and McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Thorbjorn Olesen and Matt Wallace all teed up.
"I know this is not the biggest tournament in the world," added Lowry.
"But you've still got to beat Rory McIlroy down the stretch. I did that. I just gave it to Nacho at the end. It's a bit of a disaster and I'll lick my wounds and move on and get going for next week."
A tearful Elvira could not hide his delight, telling Sky Sports Golf that he did not think a win was possible.
It is his third overall and first since the 2024 Soudal Open. He also won the Cazoo Open in 2021.
"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.
"I knew at some point it was going to be difficult, especially with the great players playing in front of me.
"I somehow managed to make a par on ten, managed somehow to make a par on 11 and I guess I calmed down a little after this and stayed patient.
"To be honest with you, I wasn't nervous until the very last putt - the one-footer I had for the win. I knew what I needed to do, I knew I needed to be patient.
"I think there are so many positives from this week and I couldn't be more happier."
McIlroy said his focus was not winning the tournament, given he began the final round three shots behind the leader.
"I was just trying to piece it together and make some good swings and try to hit a few more fairways, which I did for the most part," he said.
"Would have been nice to hit the fairway at the last to give myself a chance for birdie there.
"Overall it was a good first week back. I felt like I learned a lot of stuff about my game.
"I wasn't very sharp, but hopefully I'm a little bit sharper going into next week than I was going into this week, I guess."
McIlroy also outlined three clear goals for the 2026 season.
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