Rory McIlroy leads by one as play suspended due to a storm at the Players Championship

Shane Lowry churned his way all the way up to a tie for 17th with six birdies through 16 holes in the final round.

PLAY SUSPENDED: Rory McIlroy leads the Players Championship by one shot as play is suspended due to a storm. Pic: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy climbed into the lead with seven holes to finish while Shane Lowry stole some ground and nearly escaped before the storm suspended play Sunday afternoon at the Players Championship.

While Rory McIlroy nurses a one-shot lead after holing a 13-foot putt for birdie on the 11th hole, Lowry churned his way all the way up to a tie for 17th with six birdies through 16 holes in the final round. His bid for a clean sheet, however, ended with a double bogey after pulling his tee shot into trouble left of the par-3 eighth hole. The horn blew after a sharp clap of thunder with Lowry in the ninth fairway.