Rory McIlroy in a strong position in the championship, but the match could extend until Monday

 Rory McIlroy in a strong position in the championship, but the match could extend until Monday.

The current leader Rory McIlroy faces weather risks at The Players Championship that could extend the tournament into an extra day on Monday. Play at The Players Tournament was suspended on Sunday when McIlroy took his one-stroke lead at the back nine due to an approaching thunderstorm. Four hours of halt came from the PGA Tour just before the final group reached the 11th hole.

The tournament officials predict the contest will end after dark at 7:34 pm by requiring slightly more than two hours of additional gameplay.

McIlroy showed his ambitions by seeking his second The Players championship while already having one victory this year since he entered the final round behind the leader by four shots. McIlroy made his charge back into competition after starting with an eagle and a birdie pairing then followed it up with another birdie stroke on the 11th hole which brought him to 12 under par.

The final round of J.J. Spaun started with one-shot leadership but deteriorated to finish at 1-over par and place him behind McIlroy by a single stroke. The competition remains tight at The Players Championship because Akshay Bhatia along with Tom Hoge both Trails the leader by two strokes while Hoge stood out with his windy conditions score of 6-under.

Players will return Monday morning to conclude the game because the storms delay may exceed the available daylight hours thereby determining the winner of the $4.5 million purse.

In 2022 Cameron Smith won The Players Championship by becoming the last champion to conclude on Monday due to weather conditions. Having won two titles in a row Scottie Scheffler trails the lead by seven shots while going 15 holes in a row without scoring a birdie.

All participants and spectators stand uncertain about when this tournament will reach its end point between Sunday and Monday.