WATER MESS FOR LOWRY

JUST CHAMPION Nacho Elvira shows off his latest trophy

- NEIL McLEMAN IN DUBAI

SHANE LOWRY suffered a double-bogey “disaster” at the final hole of the Dubai Invitational to stretch his title dry spell in the desert.

The Ryder Cup star - who last won on the DP World Tour at the 2022 BMW PGA – held a one-shot lead on the 72nd tee.

But after finding a greenside bunker from 139 yards following a superb drive, the Irishman’s sand shot ran back across the putting surface and into the water on his way to a double-bogey six.

Rory McIlroy also bogeyed the same hole to see overnight leader Nacho Elvira win the first DP World title of the year by one shot from Kiwi Dan Hillier, with Lowry and McIlroy finishing in a four-way tie for third place on eight-under par.

Former Open champion Lowry, who sealed the half-point to retain the Ryder Cup in September, ended up with a 69 and said: “That was a disaster. This game is nuts.