Rory McIlroy’s bid for a second Players Championship title was interrupted by bad weather at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday.
McIlroy began the final round four shots off the lead but a brilliant start helped take the world number two to the top of the leaderboard before play was suspended due to the threat of lightning.
The 2019 winner followed a birdie on the first with an eagle from 10 feet on the par-five second after a superb long-iron approach from 230 yards.
McIlroy also responded to a bogey on the seventh with a birdie on the eighth and another birdie on the par-five 11th took the Northern Irishman to 12 under par, a shot ahead of overnight leader JJ Spaun.
Spaun had covered his first eight holes in two…