May (63) looks right at home

Bob May’s back screams at him from time to time when he leans over to pick up a ball. Those spasms might knock him out for weeks, or even months.

It rarely happens anymore, and he’s thrilled finally to be healthy and on the comeback trail after years of injury issues.

Practically playing in his Las Vegas backyard on a picture-perfect day in the desert, May shot a nine-under-par 63 at TPC Summerlin on Thursday to top the leaderboard in the Frys.com Open. Jason Gore finished with an eight-under 63 on the nearby par-71 TPC The Canyons.

May is using a belly putter for the second straight week after spending a couple of months practicing with it. He was finally persuaded by family and friends to try it out in competition, calling it a “radical change.”

“I have been hitting the ball well, but haven’t been scoring,” said May, noting that his improved putting is making a difference. “It’s nice to finally get a good round under my belt. Who knows what could happen this week?”

Gore will play the Summerlin course today and May at Canyons, then everyone will tee off at Summerlin for the final two rounds this weekend.

Jeff Overton, D.J. Trahan, Cameron Beckman and Rich Beem were two strokes back, all but Beem (64 at Canyons) sitting at 65 after playing their rounds at Summerlin.

Last month, May withdrew from the Viking Classic in Madison, Miss., after his back flared up again. He injured his hip and back warming up on the stationary bike in February, forcing him out of action for 12 weeks -- and he hasn’t been back on the bike since.

May, who has finished no higher than 41st in 12 previous events this year, eagled No. 3 and also the 341-yard, par-four 15th on Thursday after starting the day with a bogey. Just playing well again is a big boost to his confidence, considering the 39-year-old May returned to the PGA Tour last year for the first time since 2003. He played 2006 on a Major Medical Extension after not swinging a club for two-plus years because of his back.

Defending champion Paul Casey and six-time winner Ernie Els advanced to the second round of the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England.

Top-seeded Casey beat Jerry Kelly, 3 and 2, and Els easily defeated Colin Montgomerie, 6 and 5.

U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera had 11 birdies to beat Retief Goosen, 6 and 5.

“I feel fortunate to be through to the next round,” Casey said. “Jerry could have taken the match further or even won it, but I did get fortunate and he missed a couple of putts.”

Anders Hansen beat Padraig Harrington, 4 and 2, Soren Hansen defeated Rory Sabbatini, 4 and 3, and Hunter Mahan downed Justin Rose, 6 and 5.

Two matches did not finish because of a two-hour fog delay in the morning.

Henrik Stenson and Woody Austin were all square after 35 holes, and Andres Romero led Niclas Fasth, 2 up, after 32 holes. They will be completed this morning before the second round.