RORY MCILROY CONTINUED along the road to redemption in the early hours of this morning, carding a bogey-free 64 to move into a share of the lead at the Maybank Malaysian Open.

The Ulsterman, who had found himself in a share of ninth place after yesterday’s solid opening round, began brightly with five birdies before the turn after starting his round on the back nine. That run of form was in marked contrast to McIlroy’s fortune on the same holes yesterday where his single birdie was cancelled out by a bogey at the par-four 14th.

The putts were dropping for him today, however, and he followed up his impressive start with three more birdies on the front nine, closing out his eight-under par round with a two on the par-three eighth.

McIlroy’s 64 was good enough to move him into the lead alongside the overnight leader, Alexander Noren. The Swede went round in three-under today, leaving the pair tied at the top on -11.

England’s Simon Dyson is a further shot behind after he also shot an impressive 64 at the Kuala Lumpur course this morning.

A number of players still have to complete their second round after play was suspended at 3.40pm local time due to lightning in the area.

Speaking to Europeantour.com after today’s round, McIlroy said that he hoped his performance over the last two days proved that there would be no lasting repercussions from his Augusta meltdown.

“It would show more to everyone else other than myself that last week didn’t set me back,” he said.

I’ve started this week off great but I need to keep going and making birdies and shooting low scores if I want to win.

Eleven under after two days here is a great effort considering I’ve travelled so far and not seeing the course. I’m happy with how I played.