Shane Lowry and Nacho Elvira produced matching rounds of 68 in blustery conditions to share a two-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Invitational.
Lowry began the day three shots behind close friend and playing partner Rory McIlroy, but superb iron play and nerveless putting saw the Irishman overhaul the overnight leader. Chasing his first DP World Tour title since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship, Lowry mixed five birdies with two bogeys to reach five under par.
Elvira set the early clubhouse target thanks to a blistering finish, rolling in four birdies over his final six holes to post the joint best round of the day and move alongside Lowry at the top of the leaderboard.
McIlroy drama as the lead changes hands
McIlroy briefly regained control early on, birdieing the third to reach six under, but momentum proved hard to maintain in the gusty conditions. A dropped shot at the sixth and a missed par save at the ninth saw him relinquish his advantage.
Further drama followed on the back nine as McIlroy found water at the 14th and again at the 17th, slipping back to two under par after back-to-back bogeys. That opened the door for Lowry, who seized his opportunity with a crucial 31-foot birdie putt at the 16th to maintain his place at the summit.
Late fireworks and tight leaderboard
Elvira briefly joined Lowry and McIlroy at five under when McIlroy holed a 46-foot birdie putt on the 16th, but Lowry immediately responded to stay clear. Elvira’s late surge ultimately earned him a share of the lead, while England’s Marcus Armitage and Spain’s David Puig sit two shots back on three under.
McIlroy is part of a group at two under alongside Thriston Lawrence, Antoine Rozner and Angel Ayora.
American Ryggs Johnston provided the shot of the day with the first hole-in-one of 2026, acing the 218-yard par-three eighth with a six iron.
