PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The final round of play at The Players Championship was suspended at 1:15 p.m. ET on Sunday due to a line of thunderstorms that moved through the area, as was forecasted. In preparation for these storms, tee times were adjusted and moved up by approximately three hours. Players were sent off from split tees in groups of threesomes to maximize the playing time before the weather conditions worsened.
At the time of the suspension, Rory McIlroy, the 2019 champion of The Players Championship, had surged into the solo lead with a score of 12 under par through 11 holes. He was performing impressively, recording a score of 4 under for the day before the horn sounded to halt play. McIlroy's strong showing put him in a favorable position to capture another title, leading by one shot over the 54-hole leader, J.J. Spaun, who was through 10 holes.
Challenging McIlroy for the top position were Akshay Bhatia, Danny Walker, and Tom Hoge, all of whom were making significant moves on the leaderboard. Notably, Hoge was having an exceptional round, standing at 6 under par through 17 holes when play was suspended. As the tournament progressed, the dynamics of the leaderboard were shifting rapidly, indicating an exciting finish once play resumes.
The looming thunderstorms prompted officials to closely monitor the weather throughout the day. As the storm system approached, the decision to suspend play was made to ensure the safety of the players and spectators. With sunset expected at 7:35 p.m. on Sunday, the tournament organizers will need to assess whether they can complete the final round or if additional rescheduling will be necessary.
As fans eagerly await the resumption of play, the anticipation builds around whether Rory McIlroy can maintain his lead and secure another victory at this prestigious event. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.
