Doug Ford, who has played in more Masters tournaments than any other golfer, said firm putting surfaces are the biggest change he's seen during the years at Augusta National Golf Club.

``The firmness of the greens is very difficult,'' he said after posting an 88 in Thursday's opening round. ``You can try all kinds of shots, but there is nothing to hold the ball.''

The 1957 Masters champion had equal nines of 44. He teed off in the first group of the day, playing with former champions Gay Brewer and Billy Casper.

During the past year, Augusta National made several changes, including lengthening Nos. 2 and 17. The green at No. 11 was elevated, and trees were planted between the 15th and 17th fairways. In addition, a cut of rough was added to the course.

``This grass makes it impossible,'' he said. ``The old grass was much easier to deal with. With this stuff, there is no body to it. There is nothing to grasp it. But it's the same for everybody.''

Ford is playing in his 47th Masters and his 44th in a row. Only Arnold Palmer (45) and Sam Snead (44) have made as many consecutive appearances as Ford.

Whether Ford will stick around for today's second round is uncertain. In his past five appearances, he has finished the second round twice, and both of those times he missed the cut.

``Yeah, if you can shoot 88 and enjoy yourself,'' Ford responded when asked whether he had a good time Thursday. ``But it was good.''

Ford is one of the few players who remembers the last time the Masters used threesomes in the opening rounds. That was in 1962, when more than 100 competitors teed it up. This year's starting field was 96.

``The old-timers played threesomes, so we're used to it,'' he said. ``It didn't make a difference for us.''