LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Chris Gotterup fired a six-under-par 64 to surge to victory in the PGA Tour's season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday.

Gotterup, who started the final round at Honolulu's windswept Waialae Country Club two shots off the pace, reeled off seven birdies and only one bogey to claim the third win of his career.

The 26-year-old from Maryland finished on 16-under-par 264, two shots clear of compatriot Ryan Gerard, who carded a closing 65.

Gotterup's win follows his victory at last year's Scottish Open when he held off Rory McIlroy for a two-shot victory, an experience he said helped him on Sunday.

"I felt like when I've been in control of my game, when I've had a chance to win, I've done it," Gotterup said.

"When you get in contention, you're able to hit shots under the gun, you just believe in yourself that you can do it again.”

"Sometimes there is blind luck involved, and I'll take as much as I can get. I played pretty good this week."

Patrick Rodgers finished third on 13 under, three off the lead, while Scotland's Robert MacIntyre was a shot back on 12 under alongside Jacob Bridgeman.

MacIntyre was the day's big mover, vaulting 16 places up the leaderboard after a bogey-free seven-under-par 63.

But there was disappointment for third-round leader Davis Riley, who fell out of contention despite a bright start that included two birdies in his opening five holes to get to 14-under.

Riley's challenge faltered after back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes and a double-bogey on the eighth saw him card a 71 for a share of sixth on 11-under.

Meanwhile, Spain's Nacho Elvira recovered from one shot down to claim a dramatic victory in the Dubai Invitational on Sunday after Shane Lowry's final hole meltdown.

The Republic of Ireland veteran had begun the closing round in a tie for second, two strokes off the Spaniard, but a birdie at the 15th lifted him into the lead and the title seemingly his to lose.

Which he somehow conspired to do in unfortunate and cruel circumstances.

He found both the bunker and water on the 18th to finish with a double bogey which opened the door to Elvira to claim the first European Tour win of 2026.

The Spaniard, who had struggled early in the round, duly parred the hole for an unexpected but nonetheless welcome and important victory.

Elvira told Sky Sports: "It means the world. If you had told me on Tuesday that I was going to be winning this I would never have believed you. It is a dream come true."

Elvira finished on a 10-under par total of 274, one shot in front of New Zealander Daniel Hillier, with Lowry a further shot back in a tie for third with three more players, including Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, who started the final round three shots off the lead, forced his way into contention as Elvira faltered, and briefly held a share of an increasingly crowded leaderboard.

Lowry, bidding for his first DP World Tour title since the 2022 BMW PGA Championship, looked to have made the decisive move with a 25-foot birdie on the 15th to move to the top of the leaderboard.

And when McIlroy pulled his birdie chance wide on the 17th, he set up a golden opportunity for his close friend.

But moments after Lowry had powered his second shot on the 18th into the water, Elvira birdied the 17th to seize control.

Hillier, whose six-under-par final round of 65 had him hoping for at least a play-off but Elvira, who had seen his overnight lead wiped out after successive early bogeys, held firm.