Ireland’s Shane Lowry made two bogeys in windy conditions and signed for a 3-under 68 to reach 5-under and move into a share of the lead by two shots at the Dubai Invitational. He has not won on the DP World Tour since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship.

“Very happy,” said Lowry. “It was hard. It was tricky. If I play golf like that for the rest of the season in that frame of mind, I’ll be pretty good.

“The first tournament of the year you don’t know what to expect. So going out there in the last group now on Saturday is nice, and keep it going and we’ll see what happens.”

Spain’s Nacho Elvira made three bogeys for his own 68 and share of the lead.

“I feel like off the tee I hit it really well,” said Elvira. “That’s something I struggled with in the past and we made a couple changes, and I think it’s paying off.”

Englishman Marcus Armitage also made three bogeys and closed with a 70 and a share of third place at 3-under alongside Spain’s David Puig who shot six birdies, one bogey and double bogeys at the par-3 14th and par-4 17th for a 72.

Overnight leader Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland made just two birdies and five bogeys for a 3-over 74 and moved down into a share of fifth place at 2-under.

Tied alongside McIlroy are France’s Antoine Rozner with a 72 (one bogey, one double bogey at the par-5 13th), Spain’s Angel Ayora with a 72 (one eagle at the par-5 10th, two bogeys and a triple bogey at the par-4 2nd) and South African Thriston Lawrence with a 71 (two bogeys).

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