SANTA ANA PUEBLO — Bob May is often reminded of who he isn't.

"Last week, I was down here playing (Twin Warriors Golf Club) and was just playing by myself," May says. "I played through a group of guys, and they noticed my name. They asked if I was the real Bob May.

Evidently, the "real" Bob May wasn't this Bob May.

That Bob May is the PGA Tour golfer who shot a 66 in the final round of the 2000 PGA Championship and forced a three-hole playoff before finally falling to Tiger Woods.

This Bob May is in his 10th year as the PGA professional at Las Campanas and an entrant into the 42nd PGA Professional National Championship, which begins today at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Club.

"It's always a funny thing," May says of the mix-ups. "It does happen quite a bit."

May will go off No. 10 at Santa Ana at 8:40 a.m. today, and will play his second round at 1:40 p.m. Sunday. His group includes Dennis Winters from Ocean City, Md., and Chris Moody of Provo, Utah.

The low 70 scorers and ties from the field of 312 will move on to the final two rounds at Twin Warriors.

May says he's playing well, and has been able to get a good feel for both courses.

"I've probably played each course seven or eight times in the last couple of months," May says. "Things are going well. I'm feeling pretty confident, I'm playing well and I'm scoring pretty well, too."

May is one of three New Mexico golfers in the field. Scott Gates and Bill Harvey are the others.

While the rest of the golfers are going to have to adapt to the elevation, distance and carry, May is already acclimated to the courses.

"It's not so much pressure (being a New Mexico representative), but I feel like it might be a little advantage," May says. "Just in the past few years, I've played a few tournaments on both courses. So I've definitely played when they've had it in tournament condition.

"I think it's harder when you're coming from elsewhere."

May has recently been tournament tested during a sectional match-play tournament in May. He lost in the finals to none other than Harvey, the pro at Arroyo del Oso in Albuquerque.

His strategy for Santa Ana is specific.

"You have to be really watchful of where you end up on the green, because that can determine whether you have a chance to make a birdie, or whether you're having to hope for a two-putt," he says.

And as for Twin Warriors?

"They have bigger greens and aren't quite as severe in the slope," May says. "But they do have undulation."

May definitely will be challenged, regardless of his familiarity with the courses. Yet, his confidence can go a long way when it comes to making the cut.

"I would like to shoot under par the first two rounds and then try taking it from there," he says. "I would think 3- or 4-under par would probably be right around the Top 10."

That would be good enough to get May into the PGA Championship, where he would get a chance to finally make a name for himself.

42nd PGA Professional National Championship

When: Today-Wednesday

Where: Santa Ana Golf Club (Par 71)/Twin Warriors Golf Club (Par 71)

Field: 312 PGA Professionals

Purse: $550,000; low 20 scores earn a berth to the PGA Championship

TV: Golf Channel