Seve Ballesteros missed fairways and greens throughout Thursday's first round of the Masters Tournament, and finished the day next to last, just ahead of an amateur.

Seve Ballesteros hits an iron on the eighth hole on his way to posting an 86. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

He expected better results while playing his first Masters round since 2003. Ballesteros' disgust with his effort was somewhat tempered because he again was strolling through the pines and azaleas dotting Augusta National Golf Club.

"When I'm back in Spain, I always think about Augusta," the two-time Masters winner said. "This is a unique piece of art in golf."

Ballesteros has fought recurring back problems during the waning days of his professional career. He said his back felt fine after his round. He had other problems.

"I didn't come very well prepared," he said. "Everything went wrong a hundred times over."

Ballesteros shot 13-over 85 during his last Masters round before Thursday, in 2003. He was one shot worse four years later, and it started from the tee. He hit just four fairways, which led to erratic iron play, netting just four greens in regulation. Twice he went three consecutive holes with bogey or worse. He had two double bogeys on the front nine and one on the par-3 12th at Amen Corner.

Regardless, fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal said he is hoping Ballesteros will regain some semblance of consistency and be able to play the game without worrying about his health.

"It's nice to see him playing again, and hopefully he'll play good enough so that he can enjoy the game again," said Olazabal, also a two-time champion. "It's been tough for him."

Ballesteros, who will celebrate his 50th birthday Monday, didn't say whether he was a candidate to join the Champions Tour.

"At one point I will decide, but right now I don't have the answer," he said.

Augusta National was stretched and reshaped before to the 2006 tournament, but Ballesteros didn't elaborate on how much the increased difficulty affected his round.

He thought the gusty, dry conditions played a larger role in producing high scores.

"(Thursday) was tough; it was tough," he said. "I tried to find my way and do my best. The greens were very firm and very dry. You can see by watching the scores. That shows everything."

Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, five years older than Ballesteros, saw him walking from the ninth green to the 10th tee following Crenshaw's early-morning round.

Crenshaw gave Ballesteros a head nod and a handshake in passing, drawing a brief smile from his friend.

Crenshaw would like to see more for Ballesteros to smile about.

"I played nine holes with him the other day in practice, and we're happy to see him back here," he said. "Believe me, he's had some rotten luck."

Reach John Kaltefleiter at (706) 208-2213.