The 190th-ranked Elvira did what the two Ryder Cup stars couldn't on Sunday and kept out of the trouble down No.18 at the Dubai Creek Resort, making a stress-free par and shooting 69 to finish on 10 under in the first tournament of 2026.
A few minutes earlier, Lowry had been on that number heading down the last but found the greenside bunker from the middle of the fairway, then water from the sand. He made a double-bogey six for a round of 69 and wound up two strokes back.
Before that, McIlroy had arrived at the 18th tee a shot behind Lowry but pushed his drive way right into the rough, sent his approach into the bunker, and couldn't get up and down. The two Ryder Cup pals ended up tied for third place.
Daniel Hillier, of New Zealand, shot 65 to finish alone in second place on nine under.
"It means the world," said Elvira, whose wife and children ran onto the green to celebrate with the Spaniard. "You tell me on Tuesday I would be winning this, I'd never believe you.
"Anything that happens after this, nothing can compare."
Lowry was seeking a first European tour title since September 2022 and a first win anywhere since capturing a team victory with close friend McIlroy at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April 2024.
Elvira had started the final round in the lead and held a three-shot advantage on 11 under after making birdie at the seventh hole.
Then came back-to-back bogeys from the eighth before he saved par at the par-five 10th after hitting into water off his second shot.
Around an hour before the finish, five players — Hillier, McIlroy, Lowry, Marcus Armitage and Elvira — shared the lead on nine under before Lowry rolled in a 30-footer for birdie at No.15 to take the solo lead. He couldn't hang on.
