Break out the paint brushes and poster boards. <br>
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With neither side willing to budge on the debate over Augusta National's all-male membership, the leader of a women's group said Tuesday it was ``more likely than ever'' there will be protesters at the Masters next April. <br>
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Martha Burk, head of the National Council of Women's Organizations, says ``People are angry about it. People have been making plans at my request to go down there. It sounds like if nothing changes, there probably will be pickets and demonstrators.'' <br>
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Burk spoke after reviewing an interview with Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson, his first since the controversy began in July. <br>
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Johnson was adamant that the Masters will be played no matter what, and that there was no chance a woman would be among the 300 members at Augusta by then. <br>
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Burk refused to take NO for an answer. <br>
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Burk says, ``I don't accept it as the last word. It may even be the last gasp to stave off change. This has all the earmarks of a person under siege.'' <br>
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Clearly, neither Burk nor Johnson are giving in. <br>
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Both think they're right. Both think they will prevail. Both believe the majority of Americans are on their side. <br>
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During an interview from his office, Johnson pointed to four bulging files of letters on his desk that support Augusta National and its right to associate with whomever it wants. <br>
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The club plans to release a public opinion survey tomorrow conducted by a Washington polling company that indicates, among other things, that most people agree Augusta National can set their own membership policies as a private club.
