McIlroy birdie blitz helps ease Masters pain

Rory McIlroy gave a clear demonstration today that his Masters heartache would not hang over him as he fired an eight-under-par round of 64 to join Alexander Noren at the top of the leaderboard at the Maybank Malaysia Open.

McIlroy was brilliant for three rounds at Augusta last week before falling away in spectacular fashion as he relinquished a four-shot lead with a first major title in sight, and there had been fears his Masters collapse would have a psychological effect on him in the longer term.