Golf: Lowry, Elvira Lead in Windy Conditions at Dubai Invitational as McIlroy Slips

Dubai, Jan 17: Shane Lowry and Nacho Elvira mastered blustery conditions to card matching rounds of 68 and share a two-shot halfway lead at the Dubai Invitational on Friday (January 17).

Playing at the challenging Dubai Creek Resort, Lowry began the day three shots behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy.

The Irishman produced a composed display of iron play and assured putting to surge up the leaderboard, mixing five birdies with two bogeys to reach 5-under par through two rounds. Lowry is chasing his first DP World Tour title since lifting the BMW PGA Championship trophy in 2022.

Elvira joined Lowry at the summit with a strong late run, firing four birdies across his final six holes to also sit at 5-under. The Spaniard's closing stretch proved decisive

as the wind intensified, underlining his control in difficult scoring conditions.

McIlroy, who had stretched his advantage to two shots early at 6-under, faltered on the inward nine. Water trouble and a series of uncharacteristic errors culminated in back-to-back bogeys to close his round, leaving the four-time major champion at 2-under overall, three shots off the lead.

At one point, Lowry was part of a four-way tie that included Thriston Lawrence, Marcus Armitage, and McIlroy. However, late dropped shots by Lawrence and Armitage, combined with McIlroy's miscue at the par-3 14th, allowed Lowry to briefly take sole possession before Elvira reeled him in.

Armitage and David Puig head into the weekend tied for third at 3-under, while a further cluster at 2-under includes McIlroy, Lawrence, Antoine Rozner, and Angel Ayora.

The day's standout moment came courtesy of American Ryggs Johnston, who recorded the first hole-in-one of the year, holing a six-iron at the 218-yard par-3 eighth to spark cheers around the course.

With winds forecast to persist over the weekend, the Dubai Invitational remains finely poised as the contenders brace for a demanding moving day.