Rory McIlroy leads at The Players Championship as inclement weather suspends play

Rory McIlroy remained on top of the leaderboard Sunday afternoon after The Players Championship was delayed due to weather.

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The final round of The Players Championship was delayed due to weather and lightning on Sunday afternoon, as Rory McIlroy held the sole lead by a narrow margin more than halfway through his round. 

The delay followed Saturday’s announcement that tee times would be moved up to avoid extending the final round into Monday. 

"We’ve been reviewing this weather for three or four days and, unfortunately, it’s held its pattern, and it looks like this line of storms are going to be quite intense," , Stephen Cox, vice president of rules and tournament administration, said, via the PGA Tour’s website.

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"Obviously, our preferred desire is to have one tee in two(somes) and this is the awkward balance that we face," he continued. "If we do roll the dice, as they say, and try and play off one tee in two(somes) we could easily find ourselves in a Monday finish."

Players on Sunday played in groups of three to try and avoid delaying the final round further, but lightning and rain in the area began rolling in at TPC Sawgrass around 1 p.m. local time. 

RORY MCILROY TOOK COLLEGE GOLFER'S PHONE AFTER HECKLING MOMENT AT THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

The weather forecast for Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, included strong winds and the high chance of Thunderstorms beginning around 3 p.m. The weather was expected to last through the afternoon and early evening. 

According to the PGA Tour, the last Monday finish at The Players was three years ago. 

The latest update just before 3 p.m. ET said play was expected to resume Sunday afternoon. 

"PGA TOUR officials are closely monitoring the weather and play is expected to resume later this afternoon," the update read. 

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McIlroy was atop the leaderboard when the delay was announced. 

He was -4 under in the final round through the first 11 holes and is just one stroke ahead of J.J. Spaun who is +1 through the first 10. 

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Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.

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