McIlroy shares lead at Malaysian Open

Rory McIlroy shot an impressive 8-under 64 to share the clubhouse lead as the second day of the Malaysian Open was cut short by thunder and lightning on Friday.

Play at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club was halted for nearly three hours before it resumed but 77 players, including newly-crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, failed to complete their rounds and will continue Saturday.

McIlroy shrugged off last week's final-round collapse at the Masters by sinking eight birdies to share the lead at 11-under 133 with overnight leader Alexander Noren of Sweden, who added a 69 to his first-round 64.

McIlroy, who led the Masters for 63 holes before a back nine of 43 crushed his hopes of winning his first major, said he was in a ''great position'' in Malaysia heading into the weekend.

''It helps when you have a morning tee time here as you are up pretty early,'' the Northern Irishman said. ''I went out and played well, and holed a couple of putts. I've been driving the ball pretty good, which you need to around here.''

Englishman Simon Dyson was one stroke off the lead after shooting a 64, while world No. 1 Martin Kaymer of Germany was eight strokes off the pace after a 71, one shot better that his effort Thursday.

Defending champion Noh Seung Yul, who was among those held up by the weather, is in danger of missing the projected cut of even par 144.

The South Korean, who shot a one-over 73 on Thursday, struggled with his putter on Friday and is currently two-over through 13 holes.

Noren, meanwhile, struggled to remain focused in Malaysia's tropical weather.

''I had 14 great holes, but the heat got to me and I was just counting how many holes I had left,'' the Swede said. ''The more times you lead the easier it is to get the win, but I think by competing a lot you get used to everything that happens in competitions.''