Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy, once again paired together for the second round of the Dubai Invitational, endured starkly contrasting days as the Ryder Cup colleagues sought to combat stiff winds at the Creek Golf Club. Lowry got off to a flying start with a birdie from eight feet on the first and hit his approach inside three feet on the second to make back-to-back birdies. A bogey on the ninth was followed by a birdie on the 10th and his fifth birdie was secured from 30 feet on the 16th. Rory McIlroy plays his third shot on the 18th on day two of the 2026 Dubai Invitational. If I play golf like that for the rest season in that frame of mind, I’ll be pretty good,” said Lowry.

Source: The Irish Times January 16, 2026 20:54 UTC