Rory McIlroy trails leader Graeme Storm by three shots at South African Open

Rory McIlroy lies three shots behind pioneer Graeme Storm after the second round of the South African Open.

McIlroy checked a four-under-standard 68 to end on nine under, with England's Storm 12 under after an intruder free round of 63 in which he posted nine birdies.

McIlroy's astounding round observed him enroll a falcon, seven birdies, three intruder and a twofold intruder on Friday.

After his round, the world number two uncovered that he nearly hauled out of the competition with a back harm.

"I was really considering hauling out before going off today as I've changed my back in some way or another and the initial couple of shots weren't exceptionally agreeable," said McIlroy.

"It's still not extremely agreeable - I can't generally take a full breath since I've accomplished something to my upper back.

"Will get some treatment now and mulling over that, I played well and kept at it. Ideally I'll feel somewhat better tomorrow."

American Peter Uihlein and South Africans Jbe Kruger and Trevor Fisher Jnr are two off the lead on 10 under.

Faldo misses cut

Scratch Faldo, showing up on the European Tour, missed the cut on one over after a 75.

The 59-year-old six-time real victor had started the competition in Johannesburg with a promising round of 70.

Another previous European Ryder Cup chief, Darren Clarke, is set to miss the cut as he lay four over subsequent to finishing 17 gaps when play was ended late in the day due to a danger of lightning.

McIlroy winds up in a tie for fifth place, alongside England match Louis Canter and Jordan L Smith, Scotland's David Drysdale and South African Keith Horne.

In an upside down round, the Northern Irishman began ineffectively with a birdie at the second sandwiched between a dropped shot at the second and a twofold intruder six at the fourth.

A hawk three took after at the eighth, then a glimmering grouping of six birdies in seven gaps to move into conflict close to the highest point of the leaderboard.

Intruder at the seventeenth and eighteenth gaps defaced his round yet McIlroy stays in the racing to start 2017 with a triumph.

"The center some portion of my round was great - I saw a few putts go in and got some energy which was truly pleasant.

"I'm frustrated to have completed the way I did - the begin and complete were not extraordinary but rather everything in the middle of was really great. It's decent to be in dispute going into the end of the week."