The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland shot an 8-under 64 in the rain-shortened second round of the Malaysian Open on Friday and shares the lead with Alexander Noren of Sweden at 11-under 133. Nore had a 69 to go with his first-round 64.
Play at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club was halted for nearly three hours before it resumed. Later, it was suspended because of thunder and lightning.
Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was among 77 players who failed to complete their rounds. Play is scheduled to resume Saturday.
Rory McIlroy led last week's Masters for 63 holes before a back nine of 43 crushed his hopes of winning a major tournament.
He said he's in "great position" heading into the weekend.
"It helps when you have a morning tee time here as you are up pretty early," Rory McIlroy said of Friday's round. "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."
Simon Dyson of England was one stroke off the lead after shooting a 64, while top-ranked Martin Kaymer of Germany was eight strokes back after a 71.
Noren struggled with the tropical weather.
"I had 14 great holes, but the heat got to me and I was just counting how many holes I had left," he said. (Source)