The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, faced unexpected challenges on Sunday as thunderstorms interrupted the game just when Rory McIlroy was gaining momentum, taking a one-shot lead on the back nine. Play was halted at 1:15 p.m., with the leading group still on the 11th hole, indicating that they would need at least two additional hours to complete the round.
McIlroy, having already secured a win this year, began the final round four strokes back but quickly made his way into contention with a birdie-eagle start. His birdie on the par-5 11th hole brought him to 12 under par.
J.J. Spaun, who started the day with a one-shot lead, struggled and ended up one over for the round, trailing McIlroy. Meanwhile, Akshay Bhatia and Tom Hoge were two shots behind McIlroy. Hoge managed an impressive 6 under for the round but faced a delay when play was stopped as he approached the 18th hole.
If the thunderstorms persisted and daylight proved insufficient to finish the tournament, players would need to return on Monday morning to determine the winner of the $4.5 million prize in this prestigious event.
Scottie Scheffler, the two-time defending champion, found himself seven shots behind as he played the 16th hole. He had a tough stretch, failing to secure a birdie for 15 consecutive holes, continuing from the 13th hole on Saturday through to the 11th on Sunday.
The last time The Players Championship needed to conclude on a Monday was in 2022, when Cameron Smith emerged victorious, highlighting the unpredictable nature of golf under the elements.
