If you were looking for drama on the links today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, you basically hit the jackpot. Golf is weird. One minute you're coasting with a three-shot lead, and the next, you're watching your ball trickle into a creek while some guy you weren't even thinking about 48 hours ago is hoisting a trophy. That’s exactly how things shook out across the pond and in the islands.
Who won the golf tournament today in Dubai?
Let’s start with the DP World Tour because that finished first due to the time difference. Nacho Elvira won the 2026 Dubai Invitational. Honestly, it was a total rollercoaster. Elvira started the day with a two-shot cushion, and for a while, it looked like he was just going to stroll to the finish line. He actually pushed that lead to three at one point. But then, the bogeys started creeping in right before the turn.
You’ve got guys like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry breathing down your neck, and suddenly that "comfortable" lead feels like a target on your back. Lowry actually held the lead on the 18th hole. He was sitting at 10-under and looked like a lock. Then, disaster.
Lowry hit a bunker shot that was way too thin. It didn't just stay on the green; it raced across the putting surface and found the water. It was a absolute heartbreaker for the Irishman. Elvira, meanwhile, kept his cool, tapped in for par, and finished at 10-under to take the title by a single stroke.
Here is how the top of that leaderboard looked when the dust settled:
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- Nacho Elvira: -10 (Winner)
- Daniel Hillier: -9
- Shane Lowry: -8
- Rory McIlroy: -8
- David Puig: -8
Elvira was pretty emotional afterward. He mentioned that if you’d told him on Tuesday he’d be winning, he wouldn’t have believed it. His family was there to meet him on the green, which—kinda predictably—led to some great photos.
Sony Open in Hawaii: Davis Riley's Big Sunday
While Elvira was celebrating in the desert, the PGA Tour was just getting into the meat of its final round at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Coming into today, Davis Riley was the man to beat. He held a two-shot lead at 12-under after a gritty Saturday performance at Waialae Country Club. Riley hasn't had it easy since his win at the Charles Schwab Challenge back in '24, so this was a massive opportunity for him to prove he’s a regular threat on tour.
The wind at Waialae is no joke. It was blowing 25 mph off the left on some holes, making those left-to-right putts feel almost impossible. Riley admitted he felt "tense" and was trying to force things early in the week because it’s the season opener. Everyone’s got those competitive juices flowing for the first time in months, and it shows.
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Kevin Roy, Harry Hall, and Chris Gotterup were all within striking distance at the start of the day. Interestingly, the field also included 62-year-old legend Vijay Singh, who used a career money exemption to show the young guys he can still find the fairway.
What happened to the big names?
A lot of people were watching Nick Taylor, the defending champ. He was right in the mix on Friday but struggled with his back nine on Saturday, leaving him three shots back to start Sunday. He’s the type of player who "grinds it out," but when you're chasing a leader like Riley on a course that rewards precision over power, you can't afford many mistakes.
Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama were also lurking at 6-under. Spieth had some drama earlier in the week when he swapped out his hybrid for a 3-iron and immediately regretted it, claiming it cost him over two shots. He went back to the hybrid for the weekend, and it seemed to stabilize things, but he had too much ground to make up on the final day.
Why the 2026 season looks different
You might have noticed something missing this year: The Sentry at Kapalua. Usually, that’s the big season opener, but it was canceled for 2026 due to water issues on Maui. This pushed the Sony Open into the spotlight as the official start of the calendar year.
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There’s also been a ton of chatter about the schedule. Some pros are worried this might be the last time the Sony Open exists in its current format as the PGA Tour continues to revamp how they do things. If this is the swan song for Waialae, it’s going out with a fight.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're looking to track the rest of the West Coast swing, here’s what you need to do:
- Watch the "Start Lines": As Davis Riley mentioned, in heavy winds, it’s all about where the ball starts, not just where you want it to land. Pay attention to how the pros aim 20 yards away from the flag just to let the wind bring it back.
- Follow the DP World Tour Early: Since many of these events are in the Middle East right now (like the upcoming Dubai Desert Classic on Jan 22), the results are usually finalized by 9:00 AM ET.
- Check the Equipment: Keep an eye on guys like Spieth who are tinkering with their long irons early in the season. These "offseason" changes often take 3-4 tournaments to really dial in.
The next stop is The American Express in La Quinta, California. It starts January 22, and we’re expecting a massive field including Ludvig Åberg and Min Woo Lee. If today was any indication, the 2026 season is going to be defined by late-round collapses and unexpected heroes.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official PGA Tour and DP World Tour live leaderboards, as post-round interviews often reveal who's struggling with "tense" nerves or equipment changes before the TV cameras catch on.