Trevor Ng
The Players Championship, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments, has been delayed due to severe weather conditions. The PGA Tour officials were forced to suspend play temporarily on Sunday afternoon, with only 21 competitors completing their rounds before the stoppage. The delay was caused by thunderstorms and lightning, affecting the area of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Tournament organizers initially aimed to resume play later on Sunday, but the decision to bump the finish to Monday was also considered. The delay has impacted the schedule, with the potential for play to extend into Monday, mirroring the scenario from 2022 when adverse weather caused a similar disruption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Suspension | 16 March 2025 |
| Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Suspension | 1:15 p.m. |
| Reason for Suspension | Inclement weather, including lightning, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and heavy winds |
| Resumption Time | 5:15 p.m. |
| Delay Duration | 4 hours |
| People Involved | Rory McIlroy, J.J. Spaun, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith, and others |
| Ticket and Badge Information | Daily tickets or weekly badges will be honored for Monday golf if the tournament finishes on Monday |
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What You'll Learn
The Players Championship was delayed due to severe weather
The delay was anticipated, with the National Weather Service issuing a tornado watch for Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia earlier that day, warning of the potential for severe storms with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Tournament organisers had attempted to avoid the severe weather by moving tee times forward to 8 a.m. and deploying golfers in threesomes, but the storm system affecting the area proved too disruptive.
Play resumed at 5:15 p.m. that evening, with Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard, 12 strokes under par through 11 holes. The tournament hoped to finish before sundown, projected to be at 7:34 or 7:35 p.m. that day. If play had not been completed by sundown, it would have been bumped to Monday, which would not have been the first time this had occurred.
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Rory McIlroy was leading when play was suspended
The 2025 Players Championship final round was suspended at 1:15 pm due to dangerous weather in the area of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The PGA Tour officials immediately suspended play after lightning flashed in the area. The tournament resumed at 5:15 pm, after a four-hour delay, with Rory McIlroy in the lead.
McIlroy, who had won earlier in the year, was aiming for a second title at The Players. He began the final round four shots behind and started birdie-eagle, immediately putting himself in contention. He eagled No. 2 on a 10-foot putt and was 4-under for the day. His birdie on the par-5 11th hole put him at 12 under, giving him a one-shot lead over 54-hole leader J.J. Spaun.
Spaun, who had a one-shot lead going into the final day, was 1 over for his round and one shot behind McIlroy. Akshay Bhatia and Tom Hoge were two shots behind. Hoge was 6 under for his round and facing a 16-foot birdie putt when the field returned. The stoppage meant that only 21 competitors managed to complete their rounds.
If the storms continued and there wasn't enough daylight to finish, the players would have to return on Monday morning. This wouldn't be the first time that The Players had to finish on a Monday; in 2022, Cameron Smith won the tournament on the Monday.
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The PGA Tour will resume play as soon as possible
The PGA Tour will return and play as much golf as daylight permits before sunset at around 7:30-7:35 p.m. ET. The resumption of play will depend on the weather, with updates shared via social media and the tournament website. If play is delayed until Monday, there will be no refunds, but daily tickets and weekly badges will be honored.
The Players Championship turned into a race against time, with thunderstorms halting play after Rory McIlroy surged into a one-shot lead on the back nine. McIlroy was 4-under for the day and 12-under through 11 holes, with J.J. Spaun one shot behind. Tom Hoge, Akshay Bhatia, and Danny Walker were tied for third at 10-under.
The PGA Tour had moved tee times forward to 8 a.m. and deployed golfers in threesomes to try and beat the storms, but only 21 competitors managed to complete their rounds before the stoppage. The strong wind gusts and severe weather present a challenge for tournament organizers, who are closely monitoring the situation.
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The Players has seen Monday finishes before
The Players Championship final round was suspended on Sunday afternoon due to severe weather, with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and lightning in the area. Play resumed later that day at 5:15 p.m. after a four-hour delay, but it was a race against time to finish before sunset at around 7:30-7:35 p.m. local time.
If the rest of the final round is delayed until Monday, it wouldn't be the first time for The Players. The tournament has seen Monday finishes before, most recently in 2022 when Cameron Smith won. In that year, fans were able to use Sunday parking for Monday.
With strong wind gusts and severe weather forecasted for Sunday afternoon, there was a possibility that the 2025 tournament would also see a Monday finish. Tournament officials tried to avoid this by adjusting tee times and having golfers play in threesomes, but the weather caused a lengthy suspension of play on Sunday.
As it turned out, the 2025 Players Championship did indeed conclude on Monday, with Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun competing in a three-hole playoff beginning at 9 a.m. ET. This marked the second time in three years that the tournament extended into Monday.
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The delay was caused by thunderstorms and tornadoes
The Players Championship final round was delayed due to thunderstorms and tornadoes. The PGA Tour stopped play for four hours, with only 21 competitors managing to complete their rounds before the stoppage. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch on Sunday morning, effective through 3 pm. The storm system also affected Georgia and South Carolina, with lightning flashing in the area. Play was suspended at 1:15 pm due to heavy rain and lightning, with golfers and spectators urged to seek shelter.
The final group had not completed the 11th hole before play was halted, and with sunset projected at around 7:30-7:35 pm ET, there was a race against time to finish the round. Rory McIlroy had surged into a one-shot lead on the back nine, going 4-under par through his first 11 holes. He was one shot ahead of 54-hole leader J.J. Spaun, who was 1 over through 10 holes.
The PGA Tour officials closely monitored the weather, and play resumed at 5:15 pm, with the hope of completing the round before sunset. The delay caused by the severe weather highlighted the challenges of hosting outdoor sporting events, especially in regions prone to thunderstorms and tornadoes. It also underscored the importance of prioritizing the safety of golfers and spectators, ensuring their well-being during inclement weather conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The Players Golf was delayed due to severe weather, including lightning, heavy rain, and tornadoes. Play was suspended at 1:15 p.m. ET.
The Players Golf resumed at 5:15 p.m. ET on the same day, after a four-hour delay.
Rory McIlroy was leading the tournament at 12 strokes under par through 11 holes when play was suspended.
No refunds will be issued if the tournament finish is bumped to Monday. However, daily tickets or weekly badges will be honoured for Monday golf.
